Iraq

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reconstruction and development objectives his Department set for  (a) education,  (b) water and sanitation,  (c) health care and  (d) microfinance in Iraq prior to the invasion of Iraq; to what extent they have been met; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: Prior to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, DFID objectives were to ensure that there was sufficient preparation to avert a major humanitarian crisis during and immediately after the conflict and facilitate the rapid restoration of essential services such as health care, power, and water and sanitation. Much of our initial support was channelled through United Nations agencies, the International Red Cross and non-governmental organisations. These organisations moved back into Iraq quickly and set up effective humanitarian operations after the major conflict ended. They had experience of working in Iraq, well-established local networks and a capacity to deliver assistance on the ground. While several agencies withdrew expatriate personnel from Iraq for security reasons during the remainder of 2003, many of their programmes continued under the management of well-qualified local staff.
	There have been successes:
	In education, over 5,000 schools have been rehabilitated; more than 100,000 primary and 40,000 secondary schools teachers have been trained; and over 70 million new textbooks distributed.
	In water and sanitation, around £660 million has been spent on over 300 projects to repair essential infrastructure; but decades of neglect and an ageing infrastructure means that the overall access to drinkable water and sewage systems remains similar to pre 2003 levels.
	In health care, over 5 million children have received life-saving vaccinations. More than 1,000 health care facilities rehabilitated or equipped, and more than 6,000 health workers trained. Through extensive disease control programmes, the prevalence of leishmaniasis, measles, malaria and polio has declined.
	In microfinance, two institutions are operating across Iraq, which have made US$78 million worth of loans to over 40,000 clients.
	Continued violence, including sabotage of key infrastructure facilities, and low (but growing) levels of technical capacity in Iraq's national and local governments have made progress difficult. However, Iraq is not a poor country. The Iraqi Government plans to spend over £20 billion (US$40 billion) in 2007. The real challenge is to help the Government of Iraq spend this money effectively so that Iraqis see real improvements. DFID is providing expert advice to help the Government do this at national and provincial level.

Iraq

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the levels of  (a) exports,  (b) imports and  (c) gross domestic product of Iraq in each year from 1995 to 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: Economic data for Iraq are patchy. There are little data on exports and imports, due to the lack of effective border control for several years, and international trade data have never been properly compiled. However, the World Bank provides the following data:
	
		
			  Balance of payments 
			  US$ million 
			   Gross domestic product (GDP)  Exports  Petroleum exports  Imports 
			 2000 25,900 16,527 16,476 — 
			 2001 18,900 12,009 11,941 — 
			 2002 19,000 9,711 9,653 9,817 
			 2003 12,600 10,082 8,459 10,063 
			 2004(1) 25,500 17,782 17,329 19,730 
			 2005(1) 29,300 23,032 22,443 19,957 
			 2006(2) — 28,372 27,660 23,354 
			 (1) Estimated (2 )Projected 
		
	
	Iraq's economy is powered by oil (oil accounts for approximately two-thirds of GDP and more than 95 per cent. of exports). Therefore, Iraq's ability to export oil has a strong impact on the strength of its economy. As a result, GDP, exports and imports have continued to grow since 2003.

Departmental Fixed Assets

Mark Francois: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which fixed assets her Department sold for more than £10,000 in  (a) 2004-05 and  (b) 2005-06; and what the (i) sale value, (ii) purchaser and (iii) date of sale was of each asset.

Bridget Prentice: The information requested is as follows.
	
		
			  Asset  Sale proceeds (£)  Purchaser  Date of sale 
			  2004-05 
			 Stewart House, 24 Kingsway 18,000,000 London School of Economics and Political Science 12 October 2004 
			 Rugby county court, 5 Newbold road 275,000 Dean Patrick O'Brien, Michael Anthony Roy King 18 February 2005 
			  2005-06 
			 Tameside county court, Scotland street 418,000 Chestergate Properties Ltd 20 June 2005 
			 Bow Street magistrates, 28 Bow street 7,434,000 Edward Leisure Assets 8 August 2005 
			 Bury county court, Tenterden street 700,592 Adonstar Limited 31 March 2006

Arms Training

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what his assessment is of the impact on arms training of the current operational tempo;
	(2)  how many battle group and above formation training exercises were cancelled in each of the last four years; and where each was due to take place.

Adam Ingram: holding answers 25 January 2007
	All arms training continues to be maintained at a level sufficient to ensure that our troops are fully equipped to deal with the exigencies of life in theatre. The Army plans its training activities and exercises many years in advance. Changes in circumstances, including those arising from operational commitments, will always mean that a few exercises have to be postponed or cancelled. All units deploying on operations receive the training necessary to complete the tasks required of them, including combined arms training at Battlegroup and Brigade level.
	The number of Battlegroup and above formation exercises cancelled in each of the last four years and where each was due to take place are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  2003-04 
			  Number of exercises  Level of exercise  Location of exercise 
			 2 Battlegroup Canada 
			 2 Battlegroup United Kingdom 
			 2 Battlegroup Kenya 
			 1 Formation Poland 
		
	
	
		
			  2004-05 
			  Number of exercises  Level of exercise  Location of exercise 
			 2 Battlegroup Canada 
			 1 Battlegroup Kenya 
			 1 Battlegroup United Kingdom 
		
	
	
		
			  2005-06 
			  Number of exercises  Level of exercise  Location of exercise 
			 3 Battlegroup Canada 
			 1 Battlegroup Kenya 
		
	
	
		
			  2006-07 
			  Number of exercises  Level of exercise  Location of exercise 
			 2 Battlegroup Canada 
			 2 Battlegroup Kenya 
			 1 Formation Canada

Procurement Projects

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the 20 largest procurement projects initiated by his Department since May 1997 have been; what the  (a) original budget,  (b) cost to date and  (c) consultancy fees have been; and what the final cost was of each project which has been completed.

Adam Ingram: The 20 largest equipment procurement projects that have passed their main investment decision point (Main Gate) since May 1997 are as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Project  Main Gate approval( 1)  Total cost to 31 March 2006 
			 A400M—Heavy Transport Aircraft 2,700 200 
			 Advanced Jet Trainer 500 70 
			 Airborne Stand Off Radar (ASTOR) System 1,100 870 
			 Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile 1,400 280 
			 Bowman—Data and Voice Communication 2,000 1,760 
			 C17—Strategic Airlift 790 500 
			 C Vehicle—Private Finance Initiative 710 20 
			 Future Joint Combat Aircraft 2,200 560 
			 Future Lynx(2) 2,000 0 
			 Combined Aerial Target Service(2) 430 0 
			 Merlin Capability Sustainment Programme 860 40 
			 Next Generation Light Anti-Armour Weapon 420 100 
			 Seawolf Missile System—Block 2 550 210 
			 Skynet 5—Satellite Communications 2,900 150 
			 Sonar 2087 390 180 
			 Successor Identification Friend or Foe 390 230 
			 Support Vehicles 1,600 20 
			 T45 Destroyer 5,500 2,800 
			 Trojan and Titan Engineer Vehicles 400 260 
			 Watchkeeper 900 40 
			 (1) Costs have been rounded to nearest £10 million if total expenditure is under £1 billion and to the nearest £100 million if total expenditure is over £1 billion. (2) Future Lynx and Combined Aerial Target Service were approved in June and December 2006 respectively. No costs were incurred for demonstration and manufacture as at 31 March 2006. 
		
	
	The costs shown are those demonstration and manufacture costs approved (the
	'not to exceed' cost) at Main Gate and those incurred to 31 March 2006. None of the projects have been completed and therefore final costs have not been provided.
	Expenditure on consultancy fees related to these projects since 1997 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, I can advise that summaries of MOD expenditure on external assistance, of which consultancy is a part, are available in the Library of the House for the years 1995-96 to 2005-06.

Recruitment

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people were recruited to  (a) the Royal Navy and  (b) the Royal Air Force in each of the last 12 months; and how many of these recruits have become operationally available.

Derek Twigg: The following table shows recruits to the naval service for the period 1 October 2005 until 30 September 2006. Those listed as having joined the trained strength (completed phase 2 training) can be said to be operationally available.
	
		
			   Officers  Other ranks 
			  Intake in the month up to:  Intake  Joined trained strength  Intake  Joined trained strength 
			 1 November 2005 10 (1)— 390 — 
			 1 December 2005 40 (1)— 290 — 
			 1 January 2006 — (1)— 230 10 
			 1 February 2006 80 (1)— 340 20 
			 1 March 2006 50 (1)— 350 10 
			 1 April 2006 - (1)— 300 30 
			 1 May 2006 50 (1)— 170 20 
			 1 June 2006 20 (1)— 320 80 
			 1 July 2006 40 10 320 110 
			 1 August 2006 (1)— (1)— 390 120 
			 1 September 2006 (1)— (1)— 10 60 
			 1 October 2006 150 20 340 150 
			 Total 450 40 3450 610 
			 (1) Zero or rounded to zero.  Notes: 1. Due to the length of training courses, many of the intake above will still be in training. 2. The Naval Service comprises the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. 3. The latest available naval service figures are for 1 October 2006 and so the preceding 12 months figures are shown. 4. This table excludes 130 naval service personnel who entered during this period as trained and were therefore not subject to the training process. 
		
	
	The following table shows recruits to the Royal Air Force for the period 1 November 2005 until 31 October 2006. Those listed as having joined the trained strength (completed phase 2 training) can be said to be operationally available.
	
		
			   Officers  Other ranks 
			  Intake in the month up to:  Intake  Joined trained strength  Intake  Joined trained strength 
			 1 December 2005 20 (1)— 180 (1)— 
			 1 January 2006 60 (1)— 0 (1)— 
			 1 February 2006 10 (1)— 140 (1)— 
			 1 March 2006 110 (1)— 90 10 
			 1 April 2006 20 10 40 (1)— 
			 1 May 2006 (2)40 (1, 2)— (2)180 (1, 2)— 
			 1 June 2006 (2)70 (1, 2)— (2)260 (2)40 
			 1 July 2006 (1, 2)— (1, 2)— (2)60 (2)50 
			 1 August 2006 (2)60 (1, 2)— (2)180 (2)20 
			 1 September 2006 (2)30 (1, 2)— (2)120 (2)30 
			 1 October 2006 (2)30 (2)10 (2)60 (2)60 
			 1 November 2006 (2)130 (1, 2)— (2)220 (2)70 
			 Total (2)570 (2)20 (2)l,510 (2)290 
			 (1 )Zero or rounded to zero. (2) Provisional data. Due to the introduction of a new Personnel Administration System for RAF, all RAF data from 1 April 2006 are provisional and subject to review.  Notes: 1. Due to the length of training courses, many of the intake above will still be in training. 2. The latest available Royal Air Force figures are for 1 November 2006 and so the preceding 12 months figures are shown.

Electoral Commission

Ken Purchase: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission 
	(1)  how many  (a) employees and  (b) commissioners the Electoral Commission has;
	(2)  what the average remuneration of  (a) employees and  (b) commissioners of the Electoral Commission was in 2006-07;
	(3)  what the highest remuneration of  (a) an employee and  (b) a commissioner within the Electoral Commission was in 2006-07.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that, as at 31 January 2007, the Commission employed 140 people. On the same date, there was one full-time Electoral Commissioner, the chairman, and four part-time Electoral Commissioners.
	The remuneration of Electoral Commissioners is determined in accordance with the provisions of Resolutions of the House of 26 March 2001 and 13 July 2004. The current annual salary of the chairman of the Commission is £151,960. The average remuneration of the part-time Commissioners for the10n months of the 2006-07 financial year to date is £23,860.
	The Commission informs me that the highest annual salary payable in 2006-07 to Commission staff in post at 31 January 2007 is £110,000 and the average is £33,350.

Airports

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect on queues at airports in London of security measures introduced since August 2006.

Gillian Merron: The management of queues at London airports are a matter for the airport operator. While the Department is sympathetic to passengers who might have had to queue for longer than usual, it is important that security screening is carried out properly and to the required standard.

Bus Services: Lincolnshire

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much in financial support was made available for bus transport in North Lincolnshire in each year since 1996.

Gillian Merron: The following table sets out integrated transport block funding provided by DfT to North Lincolnshire council from 1997-98 to 2006-07. The integrated transport block allocations have been available for the council to use on road and public transport improvements, according to its local policies and priorities.
	
		
			  North Lincolnshire council 
			  £ million 
			   Integrated transport block 
			 1997-98 (1)0 
			 1998-99 (1)0 
			 1999-2000 (1)0.2 
			 2000-01 0.450 
			 2001-02 1.2 
			 2002-03 2.2 
			 2003-04 2.9 
			 2004-05 3.156 
			 2005-06 2.7 
			 2006-07 1.670 
			 (1) Figures are minor works allocations (a precursor to the integrated transport block). 
		
	
	Since 1998, the Department has also separately provided specific grant funding to local authorities for bus services through the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant (RBSG), the Rural and Urban Bus Challenge and the Kickstart schemes. The following table shows the amounts provided under these grants to North Lincolnshire council.
	
		
			   Amount (£) 
			 1998-99 345,545 
			 1999-2000 371,783 
			 2000-01 257,450 
			 2001-02 328,744 
			 2002-03 860,219 
			 2003-04 384,195 
			 2004-05 395,721 
			 2005-06 411,237 
			 2006-07 421,324 
		
	
	The majority of support for local bus services is provided by local authorities using the Government's Revenue Support Grant (RSG), which is an unhypothecated block grant, and authorities' own resources. It is for each authority to decide how much of their RSG allocation to devote to bus support.

Bus Services: Passengers

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the average number of passengers on a bus in the public transport system in England in the last 12 months.

Gillian Merron: The average number of passengers on a bus in the public transport system in England was nine in 2005006—the last period for which the data are available. The average includes both peak and off-peak bus journeys and is mileage-based, so long rural bus routes with few passengers have a relatively large influence on the estimate.

Concessionary Travel

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will estimate the cost of introducing free public transport on buses for  (a) young people under 18 and  (b) young people under 21;
	(2)  if he will estimate the cost of providing free public transport for all school children, broken down by mode of transport.

Gillian Merron: Analysis for the Department of Transport estimated the 'marginal' costs (in 2002-03 prices) of extending existing concessions offered by local authorities in their areas to free 'bus' travel, at all time and for all purposes, for five to 16-year-olds at around £365 million per year, and around a further £160 million per year for 17 and 18-year-olds. A total extra cost of approximately £525 million per annum. These estimates are for England only, are restricted to concessionary bus travel within the local authority in which the concessionaire is resident, and excludes any Barnett consequentials. The Department has no cost information on concessionary travel for people aged 18 to 21 years and on other forms of public transport for children and young people.
	At the present time, the Department does not have an estimate of the cost of free public transport for children and young people across England. This is extremely difficult to estimate due to the uncertainties about: take-up, the extra concessionary travel generated, the switch from dedicated school transport, travel behaviour and the amount of additional capacity required. The existence of all these inter-related variables creates significant uncertainty in any estimate.

Departmental Expenditure

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the expenditure by his Department on buying, operating and supporting  (a) all commercial software products and  (b) software products produced by Microsoft was in each of the last three years.

Gillian Merron: The following table sets out the information on expenditure on software products that is available for the central Department and each Executive Agency.
	The central Department and its Executive Agencies use separate accounting systems that record expenditure in different ways. To obtain the information in the format requested would incur disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Summary of the cost of Software Purchases 
			  £ 
			   2003-04  2004-05 
			  Organisation  Total cost of all ICT Software—including the cost of the licence, maintenance and upgrade protection  Total cost of all Microsoft ICT Software—including the cost of the licence, maintenance and upgrade protection  Total cost of all ICT Software—including the cost of the licence, maintenance and upgrade protection  Total cost of all Microsoft ICT Software—including the cost of the licence, maintenance and upgrade protection 
			 DfT(C) London HQ 1,340,005 217,195 879,883 184,622 
			 Highways Agency 2,600,000 672,000 3,350,000 1,450,000 
			 DVLA(1) 21,170,000 n/a 13,157,000 n/a 
			 DSA(2) 61,286 55,926 414,009 399,383 
			 MCA 211,135 3,214 128,718 13,225 
			 VOSA(3) n/a n/a 463,815 n/a 
			 VGA 18,220 5,750 48,000 18,300 
			 GCDA(4) — — — — 
		
	
	
		
			  £ 
			   2005-06  Total 
			  Organisation  Total cost of all ICT Software—including the cost of the licence, maintenance and upgrade protection  Total cost of all Microsoft ICT Software—including the cost of the licence, maintenance and upgrade protection  Total cost of all ICT Software—including the cost of the licence, maintenance and upgrade protection  Total cost of all Microsoft ICT Software—including the cost of the licence, maintenance and upgrade protection 
			 DfT(C) London HQ 1,039,052 85,416 3,258,940 487,233 
			 Highways Agency 3,076,000 960,000 9,026,000 3,082,000 
			 DVLA(1) 11,374,000 n/a 45,701,000 n/a 
			 DSA(2) 797,234 61,339 1,272,529 516,648 
			 MCA 151,058 30,115 490,911 46,554 
			 VOSA(3) 343,501 n/a 807,316 n/a 
			 VGA 34,900 16,780 101,120 40,830 
			 GCDA(4) 36,126 300 36,126 300 
			 n/a = not available (1) DVLA is unable to provide a breakdown in the format requested but can provide a total cost of annual software expenditure. (2) Maintenance and upgrade protection costs for DSA are included within the capital purchase price and are excluded from these totals. (3) VOSA's IT services are managed by a contractor who purchases all software on their behalf. This contractor has provided figures for software and maintenance costs for calendar year 2005 (see 2004-05) and calendar year 2006 (see 2005-06). Figures for calendar year 2004 and separate figures for Microsoft purchases are not available. (4) GCDA became an Executive Agency of DfT in November 2005.

Rail Services

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the change in numbers of passengers on Virgin Trains heading south from  (a) Manchester,  (b) Birmingham and  (c) Liverpool through Milton Keynes in each of the next 10 years.

Tom Harris: Virgin West Coast Trains is planning on an increase in the number of passenger journeys, principally from the long distance destinations of Manchester, Birmingham and Manchester, as well the north west and Scotland, from a total of 20 million a year in 2006-07 to more than 30 million a year by 2011-12. The Department expect further and similar growth, year by year, on the route in the period beyond 2012.

Housing

Alan Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her estimate is of the level of home ownership in  (a) each local authority area and  (b) each region in each year since 1979.

Yvette Cooper: Reliable estimates of home ownership at local authority level are only available from census data—and the most recent figures, from the 2001 census, can be found at the following link:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/query/asv2htm.aspx?output=dn87000_{3D4CE8BF-B1FD-4795-95A5-5AB108566D72}
	Annual estimates of home ownership at regional level are available from household surveys. These figures include a margin of error and can therefore fluctuate between years. Estimates are only available for some of the early years: 1981, 1984 and 1988. Annual figures are available from 1991. Estimates are shown in two tables because the data for the years 1981, 1984, 1988 and 1991 are only available by standard statistical region and data for subsequent years, 1992-2006, are only available by Government office region.
	
		
			  Table 1: Home ownership by standard statistical region, 1981-1991—number of households (thousand) in owner occupation and expressed as a proportion of all households 
			   Standard statistical region 
			   North  North-west  Yorkshire and Humberside 
			   Number (Thousand)  Percentage  Number (Thousand)  Percentage  Number (Thousand)  Percentage 
			 1981 533 46 1,406 60 1,038 57 
			 1984 635 53 1,505 62 1,091 58 
			 1988 703 57 1,646 66 1,220 63 
			 1991 726 58 1,322 66 1,732 68 
		
	
	
		
			   Standard statistical region 
			   East midlands  West midlands 
			   Number (Thousand)  Percentage  Number (Thousand)  Percentage 
			 1981 833 60 1,047 56 
			 1984 910 62 1,177 62 
			 1988 1,031 68 1,325 66 
			 1991 1,139 71 1,376 68 
		
	
	
		
			   Standard statistical region 
			   East Anglia  London  South-east 
			   Number (Thousand)  Percentage  Number (Thousand)  Percentage  Number (Thousand)  Percentage 
			 1981 429 62 1,243 48 2,280 63 
			 1984 466 63 1,385 51 2,658 68 
			 1988 528 65 1,524 55 2,978 73 
			 1991 576 67 1,653 59 3,139 73 
		
	
	
		
			   Standard statistical region 
			   South-west  England 
			   Number (Thousand)  Percentage  Number (Thousand)  Percentage 
			 1981 1,037 63 9,847 58 
			 1984 1,126 66 10,952 61 
			 1988 1,294 72 12,248 66 
			 1991 1,387 73 13,050 68 
			  Source: DoE Labour Force Survey Housing Trailer 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Home ownership by Government office region, 1992 to 2006—number of households (thousand) in owner occupation and expressed as a proportion of all households 
			   Government office region 
			   North-east  North-west  Yorkshire and the Humber 
			   Number (Thousand)  Percentage  Number (Thousand)  Percentage  Number (Thousand)  Percentage 
			 1992 628 60 1,862 69 1,294 66 
			 1993 655 62 1,925 70 1,329 66 
			 1994 652 62 1,958 70 1,350 67 
			 1995 649 61 1,905 68 1,342 67 
			 1996 657 61 1,909 68 1,343 66 
			 1997 675 63 1,912 69 1,362 67 
			 1998 665 62 1,923 69 1,355 66 
			 1999 656 62 1,967 71 1,400 68 
			 2000 689 65 1,999 72 1,439 69 
			 2001 687 64 2,014 72 1,429 68 
			 2002 703 65 2,003 71 1,448 68 
			 2003 717 66 2,051 74 1,482 70 
			 2004 706 65 2,018 72 1,509 71 
			 2005 704 65 2,010 72 1,488 70 
			 2006 719 66 2,058 73 1,484 70 
		
	
	
		
			   Government office region 
			   East midlands  West midlands 
			   Number (Thousand)  Percentage  Number (Thousand)  Percentage 
			 1992 1,138 71 1,351 67 
			 1993 1,140 71 1,387 68 
			 1994 1,191 73 1,396 68 
			 1995 1,166 71 1,432 68 
			 1996 1,186 72 1,440 68 
			 1997 1,197 71 1,456 69 
			 1998 1,238 73 1,501 70 
			 1999 1,253 74 1,510 71 
			 2000 1,263 73 1,511 71 
			 2001 1,270 73 1,517 72 
			 2002 1,266 73 1,582 73 
			 2003 1,274 73 1,561 72 
			 2004 1,332 75 1,541 72 
			 2005 1,304 75 1,598 74 
			 2006 1,337 75 1,540 72 
		
	
	
		
			   Government region 
			   East  London  South-east 
			   Number (Thousand)  Percentage  Number (Thousand)  Percentage  Number (Thousand)  Percentage 
			 1992 1,472 72 1,629 59 2,286 75 
			 1993 1,484 72 1,622 58 2,301 75 
			 1994 1,492 71 1,618 57 2,341 75 
			 1995 1,516 72 1,644 58 2,362 75 
			 1996 1,533 72 1,651 58 2,357 74 
			 1997 1,530 71 1,631 58 2,373 74 
			 1998 1,596 74 1,633 58 2,384 74 
			 1999 1,622 74 1,663 58 2,433 75 
			 2000 1,644 74 1,708 59 2,471 76 
			 2001 1,658 74 1,703 59 2,444 75 
			 2002 1,646 74 1,697 58 2,522 76 
			 2003 1,649 74 1,703 58 2,550 75 
			 2004 1,688 75 1,678 58 2,534 75 
			 2005 1,691 74 1,690 58 2,579 75 
			 2006 1,688 73 1,652 56 2,562 75 
		
	
	
		
			  Government region 
			   South-west  England 
			   Number (Thousand)  Percentage  Number (Thousand)  Percentage 
			 1992 1,403 74 13,063 68 
			 1993 1,427 72 13,270 68 
			 1994 1,423 73 13,420 69 
			 1995 1,440 74 13,456 69 
			 1996 1,445 74 13,521 69 
			 1997 1,442 73 13,579 69 
			 1998 1,479 74 13,775 69 
			 1999 1,511 74 14,015 70 
			 2000 1,532 75 14,257 71 
			 2001 1,557 75 14,278 70 
			 2002 1,576 75 14,443 70 
			 2003 1,574 74 14,562 71 
			 2004 1,560 74 14,567 71 
			 2005 1,569 74 14,633 71 
			 2006 1,573 73 14,613 70 
			  Note: Government office regions (GOR) differ from standard statistical regions (SSR) in the following respects: 1. South East GOR = South East SSR less Beds, Herts and Essex 2. East GOR = East Anglia SSR plus Beds, Herts and Essex 3. North East GOR = North SSR less Cumbria 4. North West GOR = North West SSR plus Cumbria All other GORs are exactly the same as the SSRs of the same name.  Source: ONS Labour Force Survey

New Build: Flats

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of new build domestic properties in England were flats in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Estimates on the percentage of new build dwellings that were flats are in the following table.
	
		
			  Table 251 Housebuilding: permanent dwellings completed, by house and flat, number of bedroom and tenure( 1) 
			  Financial year   1991-92  1992-93  1993-94  1994-95  1995-96  1996-97  1997-98 
			  Private enterprise houses 
			  1 bedroom 4 3 3 3 2 1 1 
			  2 bedrooms 22 23 23 22 21 19 17 
			  3 bedrooms 30 33 34 35 35 37 38 
			  4 or more bedrooms 23 22 24 26 27 30 32 
			  All 79 81 84 86 85 87 88 
			 Flats 1 bedroom 11 10 8 7 7 5 5 
			  2 bedrooms 9 8 7 7 8 7 7 
			  3 bedrooms 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			  4 or more bedrooms — — — — — — — 
			  All 21 19 16 14 15 13 12 
			 Houses and flats 1 bedroom 15 13 11 9 8 6 5 
			  2 bedrooms 31 31 30 29 28 26 24 
			  3 bedrooms 31 33 35 36 36 37 38 
			  4 or more bedrooms 23 22 24 26 28 31 32 
			  All 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 
			  Registered social landlords 
			 Houses 1 bedroom 4 3 3 4 3 3 3 
			  2 bedrooms 21 26 32 32 34 31 31 
			  3 bedrooms 17 22 27 30 30 31 32 
			  4 or more bedrooms 2 3 3 4 4 4 5 
			  All 44 54 65 69 71 68 71 
			 Flats 1 bedroom 35 31 22 18 17 18 17 
			  2 bedrooms 19 13 13 12 11 13 11 
			  3 bedrooms 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			  4 or more bedrooms — — — — — — 1 
			  All 56 46 35 31 29 32 29 
			 Houses and flats 1 bedroom 39 34 25 21 20 21 19 
			  2 bedrooms 41 40 45 45 45 44 42 
			  3 bedrooms 18 23 28 30 31 32 33 
			  4 or more bedrooms 2 3 3 4 4 4 6 
			  All 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 
			  All tenures 
			 Houses 1 bedroom 4 3 3 3 2 1 1 
			  2 bedrooms 22 24 25 24 24 21 19 
			  3 bedrooms 28 31 33 34 34 36 37 
			  4 or more bedrooms 20 18 19 21 23 26 28 
			  All 74 76 80 82 82 84 85 
			 Flats 1 bedroom 15 14 11 9 9 7 6 
			  2 bedrooms 10 9 8 8 8 8 7 
			  3 bedrooms 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			  4 or more bedrooms — — — — — — — 
			  All 26 24 20 18 18 16 15 
			 Houses and flats 1 bedroom 19 17 14 12 11 8 7 
			  2 bedrooms 32 33 33 32 32 29 27 
			  3 bedrooms 29 31 33 34 35 36 38 
			  4 or more bedrooms 20 19 19 22 23 26 28 
			  All 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 
		
	
	
		
			  Financial year   1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			  Private enterprise houses 
			  1 bedroom 1 1 1 — — — — 
			  2 bedrooms 15 14 13 9 9 8 7 
			  3 bedrooms 36 35 33 30 29 28 28 
			  4 or more bedrooms 34 35 36 39 36 31 25 
			  All 86 85 83 78 74 67 60 
			 Flats 1 bedroom 4 4 4 6 5 7 9 
			  2 bedrooms 8 10 12 15 19 24 30 
			  3 bedrooms 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			  4 or more bedrooms — — — — — — — 
			  All 14 15 17 22 26 33 40 
			 Houses and flats 1 bedroom 5 5 5 6 6 8 9 
			  2 bedrooms 24 24 24 24 28 32 37 
			  3 bedrooms 37 36 35 31 30 29 29 
			  4 or more bedrooms 35 35 36 39 36 32 25 
			  All 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 
			  Registered social landlords 
			 Houses 1 bedroom 4 4 3 2 2 1 1 
			  2 bedrooms 31 32 29 29 24 23 19 
			  3 bedrooms 32 30 27 28 27 24 22 
			  4 or more bedrooms 5 4 4 5 8 6 5 
			  All 71 71 63 64 62 54 47 
			 Flats 1 bedroom 15 15 17 15 14 13 17 
			  2 bedrooms 13 12 17 20 22 31 34 
			  3 bedrooms 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 
			  4 or more bedrooms — — — — 1 1 2 
			  All 29 29 37 36 39 46 53 
			 Houses and flats 1 bedroom 18 20 19 17 17 14 18 
			  2 bedrooms 44 44 46 49 45 54 52 
			  3 bedrooms 33 32 30 28 29 25 24 
			  4 or more bedrooms 5 5 5 5 9 7 6 
			  All 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 
			  All tenures 
			 Houses 1 bedroom 1 1 1 — 1 — — 
			  2 bedrooms 18 17 15 11 10 9 8 
			  3 bedrooms 35 34 32 28 29 28 27 
			  4 or more bedrooms 30 31 32 37 34 30 23 
			  All 84 83 80 77 73 66 59 
			 Flats 1 bedroom 6 6 6 6 6 8 10 
			  2 bedrooms 9 10 12 15 19 24 30 
			  3 bedrooms 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 
			  4 or more bedrooms — — — — — — — 
			  All 16 17 20 23 27 34 41 
			 Houses and flats 1 bedroom 7 7 7 7 6 8 10 
			  2 bedrooms 27 26 27 25 29 33 38 
			  3 bedrooms 36 35 34 31 30 29 29 
			  4 or more bedrooms 30 32 32 37 34 30 23 
			  All 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 
			 (1 )For detailed definitions of all tenures, see Definitions of housing terms in Housing Statistics home page. (2 )Figures for 2001-02 onwards are based on just NHBC figures, so there is some degree of variability owing to partial coverage. Telephone: 020 7944 4178 E-Mail: housebuilding.statistics@communities.gsi.gov.uk  Sources: P2/P2a returns from local authorities, returns from National Housebuilding Council (NHBC) till 2000-01 Returns from National Housebuilding Council (NHBC) from 2001-02

Procurement Projects

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the 20 largest procurement projects initiated by his Department since May 1997 were; what the  (a) original budget,  (b) cost to date and  (c) consultancy fees were; and what the final cost was of each project which has been completed.

Peter Hain: The following information refers to the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) only. It does not include information for its Agencies, NDPBs or the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration.
	The question refers to the 20 largest procurement projects, however these are the only procurement projects that have been initiated since 1997. In some cases the information is not available, such as when completed and final cost of each project. There are several IT projects within Public Prosecution Service for which information could be provided only at disproportionate costs as the data is not readily available.
	 Causeway Programme (IT)
	 (a) Original budget: £43,178,105 (£27,374.000—procurement costs)
	 (b) Cost to date: £23,279,792
	 (c) Consultancy fees: £2,345,947
	 FSNI New Accommodation Project (2004)
	 (a) Original budget: £26,000,000
	 (b) Cost to date: £326,000
	 (c) Consultancy fees: £124,000
	 Regional Office Accommodation—Ballymena, Omagh and Lisburn (2005)
	 (a) Original budget: £19,889,000 (include all running costs over 15 years)
	 (b) Cost to date: £3,169,345
	 (c) Consultancy fees: £519,740
	Expected completion July 2008
	Final cost estimated £19,889,000
	 Juvenile Justice Centre Project (2003)
	 (a) Original budget: £19.2 million (includes construction contract of £16.8 million)
	 (b) Cost to date: £17.4 million (construction cost as at building handover January 2007)
	 (c) Consultancy fees: £1.5 million
	Not completed yet.
	 Belfast Office Accommodation (2006)
	 (a) Original budget: £9,976,836 (include all running costs over 15 years)
	 (b) Cost to date: £1,407,896
	 (c) Consultancy fees: £115,575
	Expected completion October 2007
	Final cost estimated £9,976,836
	 New Mortuary Project (2004)
	 (a) Original budget: £4,865,000
	 (b) Cost to date: £595,000
	 (c) Consultancy fees: £9,000
	 Flax (IT) (2003)
	 (a) Original budget: £8.5 million
	Final cost—£8.5 million
	 Employment Checking Project (2007)
	 (a) Original budget: £2,415,000
	 (b) Cost to date: £436,000
	 (c) Consultancy fees: Nil
	Completion—Ongoing
	 Oasis Refresh (1999)
	 (a) Original budget: £2.2 million
	Final cost £2.2 million
	 Employment Checking Project (2006)
	 (a) Original budget: £154,000
	 (b) Cost to date: £129,000
	 (c) Consultancy fees: £2,000
	 Initial Review on Way Forward
	 (a) Original budget: Not Known
	 (b) Cost to date: £13,038
	 (c) Consultancy fees: £13,038

Football: Homosexuality

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the prevalence of homophobic-related incidents at football grounds.

Richard Caborn: Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor I has made any assessment of homophobic-related incidents at football grounds.
	The FA has been working with the Premier League and Football League to make the necessary changes to ground regulations so that homophobic chanting is included on the list of ejectable offences from stadiums. I understand that these changes will take effect from the beginning of 2007-08 season.
	Football clubs are also active in other areas. I understand that clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur FC list a telephone hotline number for fans to report any instances of abuse in their matchday programmes. I welcome measures such as this and hope that all football clubs will follow suit.

Football: Homosexuality

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what occasions she has met the Football Association to discuss action to be taken against homophobia in football.

Richard Caborn: Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor I has met the Football Association to discuss tackling homophobia in football.
	However, the Government believe that there is no place for homophobia in football or in wider society and we fully support the campaign being led by the Football Association against homophobic abuse in football in England.
	Through their "Football For All" programme, the FA is publicly committed to making football inclusive and open to all and to eradicate homophobia in the sport through education, effective reporting structures and communication and awareness training.

Football: Sports Grounds

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received on reviewing the regulations relating to standing areas at football grounds; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: My Department has received 88 letters on this issue since August 2006, including 73 from hon. Members and the others being from supporters' groups calling for a return to standing terraces or for standing in seated areas. This issue was also raised in a meeting I had with the Football Supporters' Federation last year. In addition, I have held meetings with the football authorities. They have made it clear that they have no wish to re-introduce standing areas at grounds in the top two divisions.

National Lottery

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much public money has been spent for the administration of national lottery good causes under section 29 of the Horse Racing, Betting and Olympic Lottery Act 2004 as  (a) a total and  (b) broken down by (i) staffing, (ii) IT and (iii) other costs; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The administration costs of the Olympic lottery distributor since its inception on 8 July 2005 are provided in the table. These costs are met from the Olympic lottery distribution fund.
	
		
			  Period 8 July 2005 to 2 February 2007 
			   £ 
			 Staffing 206,000 
			 IT(1) 0 
			 Other costs 64,000 
			 Total 270,000 
			 (1) In order to keep administrative costs to a minimum, OLD buy in support services such as IT from the Big Lottery Fund with which it shares premises. IT costs were not recharged for financial year 2005-06 as they were negligible. IT costs for financial year 2006-07 are yet to be recharged.

Light Bulbs

Lynne Jones: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what percentage of lightbulbs on the House of Common estate are low energy.

Nick Harvey: It is not possible to calculate the percentage of lamps on the House of Commons estate which are low energy, but it can be said that the majority of the lamps in use are low energy. Parliamentary estate engineers have been proactive in using low energy lamps for several years and the two of the earliest installations in the UK of the Philips QL lamps, which use less than a third of the energy of standard tungsten lamps, were inside the Clock Tower and on the Terrace. This work has continued with the palace external lanterns and Star Chamber Court, Members Staircase and the Colonnade lights all being converted to QL lamps since then. The Clock Tower external floodlighting and the Lower Secretaries offices, Upper Committee Corridors North and South and 1 Derby Gate lights were all fitted with low energy lamps during the last two years. There are several types of low energy lamps currently on trial in the Upper Committee Corridor wall light fittings and comments on them would be most welcome.
	The work of installing low energy and also long life lamps as replacements to inefficient tungsten lamps, when cost effective, is continuing as budgets and access to areas allow. It should be noted that using low energy lamps, which are usually the fluorescent type, in some light fittings in historic areas of the palace would not be appropriate, for example the chandelier in Central Lobby. Projects for installing more low energy and long life lamps and for installing lighting controls are being considered at present and suggestions for areas to investigate would be welcome.

Antisocial Behaviour: Bournemouth

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much additional funding he plans to make available to Bournemouth on the granting of respect status.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 31 January 2007
	As one of the Respect areas announced on 22 January 2007, Bournemouth has been invited to put forward proposals for up to £125,000 in 2007-08, to improve parenting services for families whose children are at risk of or involved in antisocial behaviour.

Antisocial Behaviour: Darlington

Alan Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) parenting orders,  (b) parenting contracts and  (c) antisocial behaviour orders were initiated in the Darlington area in each year since their introduction.

Tony McNulty: Youth Offending Teams ("YOTs") report to the Youth Justice Board ("YJB") the number of Parenting Orders relating to youth offending or antisocial behaviour by youth offending team area.
	The number of parenting orders relating to crimeor antisocial behaviour reported to the YJB by Darlington YOT since recording of parenting orders began in April 2000 until the period April 2005—March 2006 (the latest published data) is shown in the following table:
	Parenting orders in relation to crime or antisocial behaviour reported to the YJB by Darlington YOT:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2000-01 8 
			 2001-02 7 
			 2002-03 7 
			 2003-04 10 
			 2004-05 16 
			 2005-06 10 
		
	
	Since recording began in April 2004 of the number of final warnings with an intervention or relevant court disposal supported by a parenting contract Darlington YOT has reported no parenting contracts.
	Recording of the number of final warnings with an intervention or relevant court disposal supported by a voluntary parenting intervention, without a parenting contract, also began in April 2004. Darlington YOT reported 50 such voluntary parenting interventions in 2004-05 and 19 in 2005-06.
	The number of antisocial behaviour orders as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service where prohibitions have been imposed in the Darlington borough council local government authority area is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  The number of Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) issued at all courts, as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service, where prohibitions have been imposed in the Darlington borough council local government authority area, by age group, from one June 2000 ( 1)  to 31 December 2005 (latest available). 
			  Age group  10-17  18+  Total all ages 
			  Period 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2000
			 2001 1 — 1 
			 2002 1 1 2 
			 2003 — 1 1 
			 2004 2 3 5 
			 2005 — 1 1 
			 Total 4 6 10 
			 (1) From 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 data were collected on aggregate numbers by police force area only.  Notes: 1. No reports have been received during the period of an ASBO on application being refused by the courts. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

British Standard 7971

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the usefulness of British Standard 7971 on requirements and test methods for police riot protection; and for what reasons his Department decided to develop other specifications.

John Reid: British Standard 7971 "Protective Clothing and Equipment for Use in Violent Situations and in Training" was developed as an umbrella and generic set of standards rather than as a police specific standard. As such, it is intended to cover additional walks of life where violence, confrontation or training might be an issue. Each standard under the umbrella relates to specific equipment. Where the Home Office Scientific Development Branch has published a standard for Protective Equipment an assessment has been made that the Police Operational Requirement is not met by the corresponding element from the generic BSI 7971 set. Other elements of the BS7971 set will be assessed to see whether they meet the POR prior to work being carried out on a police specific standard

Crime and Disorder Reduction

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the Government's evaluation of the effectiveness of crime and disorder reduction partnerships.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office published in January 2006, the findings of a review of Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) which examined the provisions governing the work of CDRPs. While not an evaluation of effectiveness as such, the work sought to identify the conditions required for effective partnership based on the experience of CDRP working since 1998. The review made a number of recommendations, some of which were enacted through the Police and Justice Act 2006, with the remainder being delivered through secondary legislation and other non-statutory routes.
	In addition, the Home Office and the Government Offices and Welsh Assembly Government monitor the performance of every CDRP using the latest crime reduction information available to the Department.

Crime: Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been where CCTV evidence has been used following incidents on the railways in each of the last 10 years.

Tom Harris: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not held by the Department for Transport but by the British Transport Police who can be contacted at: British Transport Police, 25 Camden Road, London NW1 9LN, e-mail: general.enquiries@btp.pnn.police.uk.

Driver Prosecutions

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers were prosecuted for offences contrary to sections  (a) 3 and  (b) 34 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 in Suffolk in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: Available information for the Suffolk police force area and taken from the Court Proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform covering offences under section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 from 1997 to 2004 (latest available) are given in the table.
	Offences under section 34 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 cannot be identified separately from other summary motoring offences. 2005 data will be available later this year.
	
		
			  Proceedings at magistrates courts for the offence of driving without due care and attention( 1) , within Suffolk police force area, 1997 to 2004 
			  Number of offences 
			   Total proceedings 
			 1997 668 
			 1998 589 
			 1999 519 
			 2000 537 
			 2001 523 
			 2002 600 
			 2003 540 
			 2004 580 
			 (1) Offence under section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.  Notes: 1. Offences contrary to section 34 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 cannot be identified separately from other summary motoring offences. 2. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings, in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. Work is under way to ensure that the magistrates courts' case management system currently being implemented by the Department for Constitutional Affairs reports all motoring offences to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. This will enable more complete figures to be disseminated. 3. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when these data are used.

Freedom of Information

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds a police force may turn down a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Tony McNulty: The police may turn down a request for information under the Freedom of InformationAct 2000 under any of the exemptions, other than Section 35.

PCSOs

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police community support officers were employed in  (a) Bexley and  (b) Greater London in each year since their introduction; and how many he expects to be employed in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-9.

Tony McNulty: Data for police community support officer (PCSO) strength by Basic Command Unit area are not collected centrally as part of the police statistics series. These data will be collected centrally from 2006-07 onwards, PCSO strength data as at 31 March 2007 will be available by the end of 2007-08 Q2. The most recent figures available (30 September 2006) indicate that there are 2,681 PCSOs in the Metropolitan Police area.

Police

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in each police force in England were allocated specifically to traffic duties in  (a) 1996 and  (b) 2006.

Vernon Coaker: These data are not available for 1996, data for 2006 are given in the table.
	
		
			  Police officers whose primary function is traffic( 1) , by English force as at 31 March 2006( 2)  (FTE)( 3) 
			   Number 
			 Avon and Somerset 215 
			 Bedfordshire 81 
			 Cambridgeshire 99 
			 Cheshire 85 
			 Cleveland 61 
			 Cumbria 111 
			 Derbyshire 119 
			 Devon and Cornwall 215 
			 Dorset 81 
			 Durham 105 
			 Essex 243 
			 Gloucestershire 73 
			 Greater Manchester 342 
			 Hampshire 240 
			 Hertfordshire 149 
			 Humberside 181 
			 Kent 116 
			 Lancashire 197 
			 Leicestershire 77 
			 Lincolnshire 102 
			 London, City of 24 
			 Merseyside 138 
			 Metropolitan Police 603 
			 Norfolk 112 
			 Northamptonshire 63 
			 Northumbria 167 
			 North Yorkshire 97 
			 Nottinghamshire 134 
			 South Yorkshire 141 
			 Staffordshire 28 
			 Suffolk 80 
			 Surrey 99 
			 Sussex 160 
			 Thames Valley 236 
			 Warwickshire 97 
			 West Mercia 116 
			 West Midlands 401 
			 West Yorkshire 343 
			 Wiltshire 13 
			 (1) Staff with multiple responsibilities (or designations) are recorded under their primary role or function. The deployment of police officers is an operational matter for individual chief constables. (2) Data are not available prior to 2002-03. (3) Full-time equivalent. This figure includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave.

Police: Manpower

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional police officers were employed in  (a) England and Wales and  (b) North Yorkshire in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The available data, numbers of police officer joiners in English and Welsh police forces and in North Yorkshire police force, are given in the table:
	
		
			  Police officer joiners. North Yorkshire and England and Wales, from 2001-02 to 2005-06( 1)  (FTE( 2) ) 
			   North Yorkshire  England and Wales 
			 2001-02(3) 99 10,215 
			 2002-03(3) 97 13,126 
			 2003-04(4) 128 13,137 
			 2004-05(4) 123 9,908 
			 2005-06(4) 163 8,400 
			 (1) Financial year runs 1 April to 31 March inclusive. (2) Full Time Equivalent. This figure includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (3) Not comparable with later years; data includes transfers from other England and Wales forces and officers returning after a period of secondment. (4) Includes transfers from other England and Wales forces but does not include officers returning after a period of secondment.

Police: Manpower

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fully qualified and substantive criminal investigation department officers are employed by each police force; and how many were employed by each in each of the last 10 years.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 6 February 2007
	The available data are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Police officers whose primary function( 1)  is criminal investigation department, by force as at 31 March 2003 to 31 March 2006 (FTE)( 2) 
			   As at 31 March each year: 
			   2003  2004( 3)  2005  2006 
			 Avon and Somerset 333 390 315 368 
			 Bedfordshire 85 124 131 132 
			 Cambridgeshire 157 167 199 198 
			 Cheshire 249 197 244 176 
			 Cleveland 87 206 124 147 
			 Cumbria 112 115 107 108 
			 Derbyshire 177 161 262 242 
			 Devon and Cornwall 370 387 402 439 
			 Dorset 141 158 163 170 
			 Durham 172 156 186 176 
			 Dyfed-Powys 71 83 68 85 
			 Essex 352 368 371 360 
			 Gloucestershire 113 143 154 143 
			 Greater Manchester 761 876 1,032 1,226 
			 Gwent 140 133 132 125 
			 Hampshire 343 346 370 353 
			 Hertfordshire 280 318 293 323 
			 Humberside 178 145 189 379 
			 Kent 390 — 516 490 
			 Lancashire 394 421 451 438 
			 Leicestershire 158 200 236 214 
			 Lincolnshire 109 111 110 114 
			 London, City of 69 63 85 105 
			 Merseyside 428 423 410 440 
			 Metropolitan Police 3,516 3,831 4,566 3,640 
			 Norfolk 155 164 160 175 
			 Northamptonshire 111 114 263 286 
			 Northumbria 562 653 550 528 
			 North Wales 98 127 111 108 
			 North Yorkshire 136 162 147 123 
			 Nottinghamshire 307 293 287 315 
			 South Wales 436 482 493 484 
			 South Yorkshire 382 417 455 337 
			 Staffordshire 260 301 321 280 
			 Suffolk 142 134 148 150 
			 Surrey 142 152 143 152 
			 Sussex 321 312 302 304 
			 Thames Valley 280 290 315 437 
			 Warwickshire 136 138 168 180 
			 West Mercia 326 289 309 291 
			 West Midlands 825 861 882 1,009 
			 West Yorkshire 578 658 591 578 
			 Wiltshire 118 129 126 139 
			 (1) Staff with multiple responsibilities (or designations) are recorded under their primary role or function. The deployment of police officers is an operational matter for individual chief constables. (2) Full-time equivalent. This figure includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (3) Excludes Kent. Data not provided.

Police: Pensions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what average percentage of the operational budget for policing of police forces in England and Wales was spent on police pensions in the last period for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: The total net revenue budgetfor the police service in 2006-7 is £10.0 billion. The projected figure for employer's pension contributions is £1.13 billion (11 per cent.).
	Under the new system of pensions financing introduced on 1 April 2006 police authorities now have a separate pensions account out of which retired officers' pensions are paid. Where the cost of pensions in payment exceeds the level of employer and officer contributions paid into the pension account in any year the account is topped up with a grant from central Government; any surplus is recouped. A key benefit of this change is that it takes away from police authorities the responsibility for meeting the rising cost of pensions, as the number of pensioners increases, from the operational budget. Instead, the operational budget now only has to provide for the employer's contributions.

Private Prisons

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases there were of  (a) doors found to be unlocked and  (b) prisoners (i) absconding and (ii) escaping at each privately run prison in 2005-06.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information is provided in the table.
	The incident reporting system does not provide a discrete figure for doors found to be unlocked. These are reported within the category for incidents involving locks and keys. The table therefore provides figures for the total number of incidents involving locks or keys within the reporting periods.
	
		
			  Number 
			   1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005  1 January 2006 to 31 December 2006 
			  Prison  Incidents involving locks or keys  Prisoners absconded  Actual prisoners escaped  Incidents involving locks or keys  Prisoners absconded  Actual prisoners escaped 
			 Altcourse 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Ashfield 1 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Bronzefield 3 0 0 4 0 0 
			 Doncaster 0 0 0 4 0 0 
			 Dovegate 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Forest Bank 1 0 1 0 0 1 
			 Lowdham Grange 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Pare 3 0 0 2 0 0 
			 Peterborough 6 0 0 16 0 0 
			 Rye Hill 0 0 1 9 0 0 
			 Wolds 0 0 0 1 0 0

Trevor Cross

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the case of the whistleblower Trevor Cross.

John Reid: holding answer 25 January 2007
	Trevor Cross was a temporary member of staff recruited by an employment agency to work in the Disclosure Unit of the Devon and Cornwall constabulary. The termination of his employment is a private matter between Mr. Cross and his employer.
	Mr. Cross raised two principal concerns; that Devon and Cornwall constabulary have downgraded their checks on certain positions which involve applicants working with children and vulnerable adults, and that he has concerns about the accuracy of checks overall because of the Criminal Records Bureau's data capture processes.
	I have been assured by the Devon and Cornwall constabulary that there has been no downgrading or reduction in the consistency of the work conducted by their disclosure unit and that the enhanced checks for the occupations Mr. Cross has referred to are being carried out to the required standard.
	The CRB employ a wide range of measures and quality controls to ensure that the information provided on application forms is correctly captured from the forms and used when checking for any criminal record.

Yarl's Wood Detention Centre

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long each child held at Yarl's Wood detention centre has been there.

John Reid: On 30 September 2006 there were 20 minors being held in Yarl's Wood as part of family groups. All the children had been held for less than 14 days.

Citizenship Education

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in  (a) Leicester and  (b) Leicestershire employ a teacher with (i) a Citizenship PGCE and (ii) other citizenship education or citizenship teaching qualifications.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not available at local authority level.
	The following table provides the number of teachers teaching by subject, including citizenship, in maintained secondary schools in England and the highest post A level qualification held in the subject taught. The information is from 2002, the latest available.
	
		
			  Teachers in Service: Full-time teachers in maintained secondary schools—Highest post A level qualifications( 1)  held in the subjects they teach( 2)  to year groups 7-13, England 
			   Percentages  
			   Degree( 3)  BEd  PGCE  Cert Ed  Other Qual.  No Qual.  Total teachers (Thousand) 
			 Mathematics 42 ± 3 15 ± 2 9 ± 2 7 ± 1 2 ± 1 24 ± 2 28.2 
			 English 51 ± 3 15 ± 2 7 ± 1 6 ± 1 1 ± 1 20 ± 2 29.4 
			 
			 Combined/General science 62 ± 3 12 ± 2 10 ± 2 4 ± 1 1 ± 1 11 ± 2 28.3 
			 Biology(4) 71 ± 5 7 ± 3 11 ± 4 3 ± 2 - ± 1 7 ± 3 5.6 
			 Chemistry(4) 72 ± 5 6 ± 3 12 ± 4 1 ± 1 1 ± 1 7 ± 3 5.2 
			 Physics(4) 63 ± 6 11 ± 4 15 ± 4 3 ± 2 - ± - 8 ± 3 4.7 
			 Other sciences(4) 10 ± 6 4 ± 4 5 ± 4 - ± - - ± - 80 ± 8 1.6 
			 
			 French 54 ± 3 7 ± 2 10 ± 2 3 ± 1 2 ± 1 23 ± 3 16.0 
			 German 47 ± 5 6 ± 3 13 ± 4 1 ± 1 2 ± 1 30 ± 5 6.9 
			 Spanish 37 ± 7 8 ± 4 19 ± 6 - ± - 3 ± 2 33 ± 7 3.6 
			 Other modern languages 18 ± 8 - ± - 9 ± 7 - ± - 3 ± 4 71 ±10 1.4 
			 
			 Design and technology(5) 26 ± 3 20 ± 3 7 ± 2 21 ± 3 2 ± 1 24 ± 3 20.9 
			 ICT(5, 6) 13 ± 2 6 ± 1 8 ± 2 2 ± 1 3 ± 1 69 ± 3 18.9 
			 Other/Combined technology(5) 30± 1 0 13 ± 8 16 ± 7 18 ± 9 2 ± 3 20 ± 9 1.6 
			 
			 Business studies 30 ± 5 11 ± 4 9 ± 3 4 ± 2 3 ± 2 43 ± 5 6.5 
			 Classics 33 ± 7 - ± - 2 ± 4 2 ± - - ± - 63 ± 7 1.0 
			 History 57 ± 4 9 ± 2 6 ± 2 6 ± 2 - ± - 23 ± 3 13.7 
			 Religious education 22 ± 3 8 ± 2 8 ± 2 4 ± 1 2 ± 1 57 ± 4 14.2 
			 Geography 53 ± 4 9 ± 2 6 ± 2 5 ± 2 1 ± 1 25 ± 3 13.7 
			 Other social studies 35 ± 5 6 ± 3 2 ± 2 2 ± 1 - ± 1 54 ± 6 4.9 
			 Combined arts/humanities/ social studies 5 ± 3 4 ± 2 7 ± 3 1 ± 1 1 ± 1 83 ± 5 5.3 
			 
			 Music 59 ± 5 15 ± 4 5 ± 2 6 ± 3 2 ± 2 13 ± 4 6.3 
			 Drama 25 ± 4 10 ± 3 12 ± 3 6 ± 2 2 ± 1 45 ± 5 8.1 
			 Art and design 54 ± 4 10 ± 3 7 ± 2 9 ± 3 1 ± 1 20 ± 4 9.3 
			 Physical education 25 ± 3 31 ± 3 6 ± 2 13 ± 2 2 ± 1 22 ± 2 21.4 
			 Careers education 2 ± 2 1 ± 2 3 ± 3 4 ± 4 3 ± 4 87 ± 7 1.5 
			 PSHE(6) 1 ± - 1 ± - 2 ± 1 1 ± - - ± - 95 ± 1 61.4 
			 General studies 1 ± 1 2 ± 1 1 ± 1 - ± 1 - ± - 95 ± 2 7.1 
			 Citizenship 2 ± 1 1 ± 1 2 ± 1 - ± 1 - ± - 94 ± 2 9.0 
			 Other — — — — — — 32.8 
			 
			 Total(2, 7) 33 ± - 10 ±- 7 ± - 5 ± - 1 ± - 44 ± - 388.4 
			 '-' = zero or less than 0.5. (1) Where a teacher has more than one post A level qualification in the same subject, the qualification level is determined by the highest level reading from left (Degree) to right (Other Qual.). For example, teachers shown under PGCE have a PGCE but not a degree or BEd in the subject, while those with a PGCE and a degree are shown only under Degree. (2) Teachers are counted once against each subject which they are teaching. (3) Includes higher degrees but excludes BEds. (4) Teachers qualified in combined/general science are treated as qualified to teach biology, chemistry, or physics. Teachers qualified in biology, chemistry or physics are treated as qualified to teach combined/general science. (5) Teachers qualified in other/combined technology are treated as qualified to teach design and technology or information and communication technology. Teachers qualified in design and technology or information and communication technology are treated as qualified to teach other/combined technology. (6) Information and Communication Technology is abbreviated as ICT and Personal Social and Health Education is abbreviated as PSHE. (7) 'Other' not included in total percentages.  Source: Secondary Schools Curriculum and Staffing Survey 2002.

Curriculum: Climate Change

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what  (a) guidance and  (b) resources have been provided by his Department to schools and colleges to enhance the teaching of climate change issues.

Jim Knight: The Department's aim is for all schools in England to be sustainable schools by 2020. In 2006 we consulted on a framework to help schools embed sustainability across all areas of school life including the curriculum. This academic year is a year of action to help schools become sustainable. We are working with partners to develop resources to support the teaching and learning of key issues like climate change such as a pupil 'detective kit' and teacher resource pack. A climate change package including a copy of Al Gore's film 'An Inconvenient Truth' is also being made available to all schools.
	The Department has funded the Met Office Education Service to produce a free CD-Rom to aid the teaching of climate change at GCSE and A-level. This year they will produce poster based teaching resources on climate change for schools. The Climate Challenge Fund was setup in 2006 by DEFRA to provide financial support for communications projects seeking to achieve positive changes in public attitudes about climate change. A number of the projects will create resources for schools, including an e-learning game, education packs and DVDs.
	All of the above resources will be available to schools and colleges through the Sustainable Schools area of Teachernet at:
	www.teachernet.gov.uk/sustainableschools

Curriculum: Driving

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will consider introducing the teaching of safe driving into the national curriculum; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 6 February 2007
	Education about safety is included in the curriculum through the non-statutory framework of personal social and health education (PSHE). In PSHE lessons pupils are taught about rules for, and ways of, keeping safe, to recognise the risks that apply in different situations and then to decide how to behave responsibly. They should be taught to recognise and manage risk, to be aware when pressure from others threatens their personal safety and to develop assertiveness techniques when dealing with unhelpful pressure. Schools may use the issue of safe driving when addressing these learning outcomes.
	The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority have been undertaking a review of the secondary national curriculum, including PSHE. The draft programmes of study will be subject to a public consultation from 5 February and views on the inclusion of safe driving can be expressed as part of this consultation.

Curriculum: History

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to reform history teaching in schools.

Jim Knight: At the request of Government, the QCA is carrying out a review of the secondary curriculum to reduce prescription, improve coherence and create further opportunities for schools to meet the needs of their pupils. A formal consultation on the new secondary curriculum will begin on 5 February 2007. Revised programmes of study will be available to schools for planning purposes in September 2007, with implementation beginning in September 2008. In addition QCA have also recently reviewed A level criteria and are currently reviewing GCSE criteria.

Education: North East Region

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school education in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) England in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The Jarrow constituency comprises schools in both South Tyneside and Gateshead local authority, so the available information provided in the following table applies to the South Tyneside and Gateshead local authorities, the North East Region and England:
	
		
			  School based expenditure( 1)  in local authority maintained primary and secondary schools( 2, 3 ) 1997-98 to 2005-06( 4, 5, 6, 7) —cash terms figures( 8, 9, 10)  as reported by local authorities as at 31 January 2007 
			   South Tyneside( 10)  Gateshead( 10) 
			   Primary( 2)  Pre-primary and primary( 2, 3)  Secondary  Primary( 2)  Pre-primary and primary( 2, 3)  Secondary 
			 1997-98(4) — 23,933,000 20,902,000 — 29,995,000 27,070,000 
			 1998-99(4) — 26,215,000 23,212,000 — 31,560,000 27,655,000 
			
			 1999-2005(5) 27,558,000 28,383,000 25,027,000 33,957,000 34,335,000 28,547,000 
			 2000-01 30,420,000 31,761,000 28,370,000 38,122,000 38,891,000 33,960,000 
			 2001-02 35,560,000 37,254,000 33,973,000 38,793,000 40,669,000 34,180,000 
			
			 2002-03(6, 7) 34,070,000 — 33,656,000 40,746,000 — 38,245,000 
			 2003-04 36,784,000 — 36,935,000 43,292,000 — 43,304,000 
			 2004-05 37,531,000 — 39,765,000 45,000,000 — 46,612,000 
			 2005-06(8) 39,051,000 — 42,712,000 48,803,000 — 49,459,000 
		
	
	
		
			   North East  England 
			   Primary( 2)  Pre-primary and primary( 2, 3)  Secondary  Primary( 2)  Pre-primary and primary( 2, 3)  Secondary 
			 1997-98(4) — 387,380,000 393,033,000 — 7,277,910,000 5,775,271,000 
			 1998-99(4) — 412,727,000 412,503,000 — 7,834,434,000 6,049,029,000 
			
			 1999-2005(5) 444,482,000 458,999,000 447,885,000 8,602,543,000 8,842,996,000 8,257,736,000 
			 2000-01 483,885,000 502,500,000 496,833,000 9,425,272,000 9,761,443,000 9,093,528,000 
			 2001-02 544,838,000 571,112,000 557,576,000 10,495,632,000 10,918,773,000 10,261,440,000 
			
			 2002-03(6, 7) 537,799,000 — 569,583,000 10,584,953,000 — 10,621,927,000 
			 2003-04 572,380,000 — 631,797,000 11,379,539,000 — 11,768,559,000 
			 2004-05 596,563,000 — 672,642,000 11,900,153,000 — 12,603,303,000 
			 2005-06(8) 638,133,000 — 718,537,000 12,721,978,000 — 13,480,547,000 
			 (1) School based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by the schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees and charges and rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure which cannot be attributed to a particular phase of education. (2) Expenditure was not distinguished between the pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of Section 52 for financial year 1999-2000. (3) School based expenditure in LA maintained nursery schools was not recorded in 2002-03 and comparable figures are not available for 2003-04 onwards. (4) Spending in 1997-98 reflects the transfer of monies from local government to central Government for the nursery vouchers scheme. These were returned to local government from 1998-99. (5) The 1999-2000 figures reflect the return of grant maintained schools to local authority maintenance. (6) 1999-2000 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the RO1 form collected by the ODPM to the Section 52 form from the DfES. 2002-03 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) to schools and the associated restructuring of the outturn tables. The change in sources is shown by the blank row. (7) The calculation for 2002-03 onwards is broadly similar to the calculation in previous years. However, 2001-02 and earlier years includes all premature retirement compensation (PRC) and Crombie payments, mandatory PRC payments and other indirect employee expenses. Also, for some LAs, expenditure that had previously been attributed to the school sectors was reported within the LA part of the form from 2002-03 and would therefore be excluded, though this is not quantifiable from existing sources. (8) 2005-06 data is subject to change by the local authority. (9) Figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000. (10) Financial data is collected at a local authority level and not at constituency level and consequently figures for the constituency of Yarrow are not available. Yarrow has schools in both South Tyneside LA and Gateshead LA and consequently figures are provided for both.

Educational Attainment

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how each of the coefficients used in the calculation of the 2006 key stage 2 to 4 contextual value added were calculated;
	(2)  what the  (a) value and  (b) upper and lower confidence limit was of each of the underlying coefficients used in the calculation of the 2006 key stage 2 to 4 contextual value added score.

Jim Knight: The coefficients were calculated on the full national dataset of approximately 600,000 pupils reaching the end of Key Stage 4 in 2006, taking account of their KS2 and KS4 attainment together with the individual pupil level characteristics collected in the Annual School Census in January 2006. The coefficient for a particular characteristic shows the average effect of that characteristic on pupil attainment, after taking account of each pupil's prior attainment and all the other characteristics included in the model. The coefficients were derived using the package MLwiN using multi-level modelling techniques. Separate models were calculated for maintained mainstream schools, and for special schools.
	The values and confidence limits of the coefficients for each of the models are as follows:
	
		
			  2006 KS2-4 Maintained Mainstream CVA model 
			   Coefficient  Lower limit on Cl  Upper limit on Cl 
			 Constant 132.315 107.53 157.07 
			 Quadratic of KS2 Average Point Score 0.3876 0.38 0.40 
			 KS2 fine grade average points score -5.523 -6.03 -5.01 
			 KS2english -KS2 average point score fine grades 2.330 2.20 2.46 
			 KS2maths -KS2 average point score fine grades 0.376 0.24 0.51 
			 Does student have FSM? (no) 0.000 — — 
			 Does student have FSM? (yes) -25.122 -25.80 -24.44 
			 Deprivation indicator—IDACI score -65.191 -66.54 -63.84 
			 Has the student ever been in care at this school? (no) 0.000 — — 
			 Has the student ever been in care at this school? (yes) -31.236 -33.73 -28.75 
			 Does student have SEN—Action Plus? -63.563 -64.35 -62.77 
			 Does student have SEN—school action? -37.349 -38.00 -36.70 
			 Pupil joined school after September Yr 10 -75.622 -76.94 -74.30 
			 Pupil joined not in July/August/September yrs 7, 8, 9 -24.226 -25.06 -23.40 
			 Male 0.000 — — 
			 Female 14.569 14.19 14.95 
			 Age within academic year -14.036 -14.64 -13.44 
			 First language: English or believed to be English 0.000 — — 
			 First language: Other or believed to be other (EAL) -12.458 -29.74 4.82 
			 EAL* KS2APS 5.4708 4.06 6.88 
			 EAL* Quadratic of KS2 APS -0.1584 -0.19 -0.13 
			 Is the student White British? 0.000 — — 
			 Is the student White Irish? -1.402 -4.59 1.78 
			 Is the student a White Irish traveller? -45.524 -61.55 -29.49 
			 Is the student White Gypsy/Roma? -58.762 -69.80 -47.72 
			 Is the student White other? 11.061 9.47 12.65 
			 Is the student Mixed White/Black Caribbean? -2.348 -4.52 -0.17 
			 Is the student Mixed White/Black African? 9.408 4.83 13.99 
			 Is the student Mixed White/Asian? 9.266 6.32 12.21 
			 Is the student any other Mixed ethnic group? 5.783 3.52 8.04 
			 Is the student Indian? 24.419 22.73 26.11 
			 Is the student Pakistani? 17.504 15.59 19.41 
			 Is the student Bangladeshi? 23.814 20.84 26.78 
			 Is the student any other Asian ethnic group? 27.163 24.31 30.01 
			 Is the student Black Caribbean? 11.922 10.12 13.72 
			 Is the student Black African? 28.622 26.42 30.82 
			 Is the student any other Black ethnic group? 7.031 3.81 10.26 
			 Is the student Chinese? 34.156 30.64 37.68 
			 Is the student any other ethnic group? 22.169 19.36 24.98 
			 Is the student in an unclassified ethnic group? -9.373 -10.70 -8.05 
			 FSM* White British 0.000 — — 
			 FSM* Irish -3.9217 -11.78 3.94 
			 FSM* Traveller of Irish heritage -32.9276 -58.53 -7.33 
			 FSM* Gypsy/ Roma 27.8899 10.24 45.54 
			 FSM* Any other white background 25.8494 22.12 29.58 
			 FSM* White and Black Caribbean 11.3006 6.87 15.73 
			 FSM* White and Black African 3.7395 -6.08 13.56 
			 FSM* White and Asian 13.2769 5.43 21.13 
			 FSM* Any other mixed background 6.7990 1.70 11.90 
			 FSM* Indian 18.8529 15.07 22.63 
			 FSM* Pakistani 21.0732 18.53 23.61 
			 FSM* Bangladeshi 22.2634 18.51 26.01 
			 FSM* Any other Asian background 24.2656 18.12 30.42 
			 FSM* Caribbean 20.3238 16.71 23.93 
			 FSM* Black African 19.9224 16.39 23.45 
			 FSM* Any other black background 25.8815 19.62 32.14 
			 FSM* Chinese 27.7773 18.41 37.15 
			 FSM* Any other ethnic group 30.6513 25.92 35.38 
			 FSM* Unclassified ethnic group 4.5587 1.01 8.10 
			 KS2 average point score of cohort 2.490 1.81 3.17 
			 KS2 standard deviation in cohort -5.526 -7.32 -3.73 
		
	
	
		
			  2006 KS2-4 Special school CVA model 
			   Coefficient  Lower limit on Cl  Upper limit on Cl 
			 Constant -13.855 21.84 -49.54 
			 Quadratic of KS2 Average Point Score 0.0825 0.17 0.00 
			 KS2 fine grade average points score 2.535 6.17 -1.10 
			 KS2english—KS2 average point score fine grades 0.885 1.60 0.17 
			 KS2maths—KS2 average point score fine grades -1.246 -0.47 -2.03 
			 Does student have FSM? (no) 0 — — 
			 Does student have FSM? (yes) 1.48 3.43 -0.47 
			 Deprivation indicator—IDACI score -1.27 4.03 -6.57 
			 Has the student ever been in care at this school? (no) 0 — — 
			 Has the student ever been in care at this school? (yes) 1.345 4.98 -2.29 
			 Pupil joined school after Sept Yr 10 -24.333 -20.57 -28.09 
			 Pupil joined not in Jul/Aug/Sept yrs 7, 8, 9 -3.523 -1.44 -5.60 
			 Male 0 — — 
			 Female 0.105 2.00 -1.79 
			 Age within academic year -3.804 -0.87 -6.73 
			 First language: English or believed to be English 0 — — 
			 First language: Other or believed to be other 3.563 9.59 -2.47 
			 Is the student White British? 0 — — 
			 Is the student White Irish? 0 — — 
			 Is the student a White Irish traveller? -8.642 -1.58 -15.70 
			 Is the student White Gypsy/Roma? -8.642 -1.58 -15.70 
			 Is the student White other? -8.642 -1.58 -15.70 
			 Is the student Mixed White/Black Caribbean? 0.651 5.35 -4.05 
			 Is the student Mixed White/Black African? -2.97 4.11 -10.05 
			 Is the student Mixed White/Asian? -2.97 4.11 -10.05 
			 Is the student any other Mixed ethnic group? -2.97 4.11 -10.05 
			 Is the student Indian? -6.47 1.17 -14.11 
			 Is the student Pakistani? -8.569 -1.17 -15.96 
			 Is the student Bangladeshi? -8.569 -1.17 -15.96 
			 Is the student any other Asian ethnic group? -6.47 1.17 -14.11 
			 Is the student Black Caribbean? 0.651 5.35 -4.05 
			 Is the student Black African? 0.651 5.35 -4.05 
			 Is the student any other Black ethnic group? 0.651 5.35 -4.05 
			 Is the student Chinese? -6.47 1.17 -14.11 
			 Is the student any other ethnic group? -3.434 2.20 -9.07 
			 Is the student in an unclassified ethnic group? -3.434 2.20 -9.07

GCE A Level: Standards

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students attained at least three As at  (a) AS and  (b) A-level in the years 2004-05 and 2005-06, broken down by school or further education college.

Jim Knight: holding answer 5 February 2007
	The requested figures are in the following table.
	
		
			  Candidates aged 16 to 18 achieving three or more A grades at A and AS level 
			   GCE/VCE A level( 1)  GCE/VCE AS level( 2,3) 
			 2004-05   
			 Schools(4) 20,133 13,390 
			 FE colleges(5) 4,495 4,657 
			
			 2005-06   
			 Schools(4) 22,182 14,083 
			 FE Colleges(5) 5,173 5,064 
			  Notes: 1. A VCE double award at grade AA counts as two A grades—an award at grade AB counts as one. 2. In 2005-06, an Applied GCE AS double award at grade AA counts as two A grades—an award at grade AB counts as one. 3. Excludes candidates achieving an A level in the same subject in the same year and those who did not cash in their AS levels. 4. Includes independent schools. 5. Includes sixth form colleges and other FE sector colleges.

GCSEs

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of 15 year olds attending  (a) independent schools and  (b) maintained schools achieved five or more GCSEs at A* to C including  (a) English and mathematics,  (b) English, mathematics and science and  (c) English, mathematics and science and a modern foreign language in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information requested can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

GCSE: Hendon

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of secondary school students in Hendon achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  GCSE and equivalent results, percentage of pupils in maintained secondary schools 
			   Hendon constituency  Barnet LA  London region  England( 1) 
			  Achieving 5+A*-C 
			 1997 49.4 52.0 40.4 45.1 
			 2006(2) 64.6 65.6 58.3 59.2 
			  
			  Achieving 5+A*-G 
			 1997 88.6 89.6 85.5 86.4 
			 2006(2) 92.5 92.7 91.4 90.5 
			  
			  Any passes 
			 1997 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 2006(2) 98.0 97.8 97.5 97.8 
			 n/a = not available (1) England figures are based on all schools. (2) Revised data.  Notes: 1. From 2004 includes GCSEs and other equivalent qualifications approved for use pre-16. 2. From 2006 figures are for pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. 
		
	
	As a result of our reforms, GCSE results nationally are at their highest level ever.

Independent Schools

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what action his Department  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Consultation in relation to the consultation on the Definition of Full-Time Education in Independent Schools; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what informal consultation with stakeholders took place prior to the publication of the consultation document on the Definition of Full-Time Education in Independent Schools; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  why a draft Regulatory Impact Assessment was not attached to the consultation paper on the Definition of Full-Time Education in Independent Schools; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The consultation on the Definition of Full-Time Education in Independent Schools has been undertaken in full adherence with the Cabinet Office's Code of Practice on Consultations. All major stakeholders, identified prior to the consultation, were sent a copy of the consultation on the day it launched and invited to respond. The consultation is available on the Department's website.
	The consultation will not result in any changes in Primary or Secondary legislation. The establishments which will be required to register as Independent Schools, should the new guidance be implemented, will already be operating and will only incur costs relating to implementing the Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2003 amended 2004 and the Education (Independent School Inspection Fees and Publication) (England) Regulations 2003. These regulations were subject to a full consultation and Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) prior to their introduction. The RIA is available on the Department's website.

Qualifications: Darlington

Alan Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of pupils at state schools in Darlington achieved five or more A* to C grades in GCSEs in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: The information can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  GCSE and equivalent achievements in Darlington local authority( 1) ,1996-97 to 2005-06( 2) 
			   Number of 15 year old pupils( 3)  Number of 15 year olds gaining 5+ GCSEs or equivalent at grades A*-C  Percentage of 15 year old pupils gaining 5+ GCSEs or equivalent at grades A*-C 
			 2005-06(4) 1,219 704 57.8 
			 2004-05 1,204 683 56.7 
			 2003-04 1,189 606 51.0 
			 2002-03 1,189 606 51.0 
			 2001-02 1,114 542 48.7 
			 2000-01 1,154 545 47.2 
			 1999-00 1,141 513 45.0 
			 1998-99 1,079 463 42.9 
			 1997-98 1,106 410 37.1 
			 1996-97 1,120 420 37.5 
			 (1 )Local authority figures include pupils in maintained schools only. These figures are adjusted for those recently arrived from overseas. (2 )Including achievements in previous academic years (3 )Number of pupils on roll aged 15 at the start of the academic year. (4 )Figures for 2005-06 are revised, all other figures are final. (5 )Percentages from 1996-97 include GCSEs and GNVQs (6 )Percentages from 2003-04 include GCSEs and other equivalent qualifications approved for use pre-16.

Reading

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to encourage reading among children over the next five years.

Jim Knight: Providing children with the basic skills that allow them to read with fluency and confidence is a crucial first step for them to develop an enthusiasm for reading. Our renewed primary literacy framework draws on the recommendations of Jim Rose's review of the teaching of early reading, and the systematic useof phonics as the prime strategy for the teaching of reading, and will help improve reading levels amongst all pupils. And the national roll-out of the "Every Child a Reader" initiative will help those children who experience difficulties in learning to read.
	We recognise that reading for pleasure is critical to improving children's life chances and we are taking action on several fronts to promote this. This includes providing a range of materials to support teachers, school librarians and others to ensure that schools both provide high quality teaching and learning in reading, and promote an environment which encourages children's enthusiasm for reading. We encourage schools to develop study support activities which focus on literacy, including reading and book clubs. Our "Playing for Success" study support centres which open out of school hours use sport as a theme in their reading activities to encourage children to read.
	We continue to work with a number of partners to promote reading in schools and the wider community. This includes working with the National Literacy Trust to run the National Reading Campaign (NRC). Key strands are Reading Connects, which supports schools in building whole-school reading communities; and Reading Champions, which finds and celebrates positive male role models and seeks to change boys' attitudes to reading. A third strand of work, the Family Reading Campaign, launched earlier this year and is working in partnership with key organisations to promote the benefits of reading in the home and show parents and other family members how easily they can support their children.
	Our wider work to help to foster children's enthusiasm for reading includes funding the delivery of the Bookstart programme which encourages parents and carers to read with their children from when they are babies and offers free books to every child and advice to every parent. In addition, the 2006 pre-Budget report announced funding to provide every child making the transition to both primary and secondary school—including all children entering schools in the independent sector, special schools, or any other kind of school—with a free book, from autumn 2007.

Road Safety

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make road safety a mandatory part of the national curriculum.

Jim Knight: Currently, there are no plans to make road safety a mandatory part of the national curriculum. Education about safety, including road safety, is already included in the curriculum through the non-statutory framework of Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE). In addition, DfES issued 'Safety Education: Guidance for Schools' in 2001. This references highways as a context for safety education although it is for schools to decide on the content of their safety education programme.
	The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority have been undertaking a review of the secondary National Curriculum, including PSHE. The draft programmes of study will be subject to a public consultation from5 February and views on the statutory basis of road safety education can be expressed as part of this consultation.

School Libraries

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of23 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1655W, on school libraries, what his estimate is of the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of schools that have libraries.

Jim Knight: The Department does not collect data on numbers of schools with a library.

School Sponsorship

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received from sponsors of charter schools in America about sponsoring  (a) academies and  (b) trust schools in England.

Jim Knight: Officials in the Department for Education and Skills had preliminary discussions with an organisation that sponsor charter schools, on a number of occasions back in 2005. They were keen to sponsor several academies in England but have since decided to withdraw from the proposal.
	Officials in the Department for Education and Skills had an exploratory discussion around trust schools policy with an organisation that sponsors charter schools in September 2006. A follow up meeting is planned in February.

Schools: Greater London

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the schools designated as  (a) sports hubs and  (b) specialist sports colleges in each London local authority.

Jim Knight: The following tables show the names of  (a) sports hubs and  (b) specialist sports colleges in each London local authority.
	
		
			  Table (a): Sports hubs 
			  School sport partnership name  Host site  Local authority 
			 Barnet South Whitefield School Barnet (LB) 
			 St. James St. James Catholic High School Barnet (LB) 
			 Chislehurst, Sidcup and Hurstmere Hurstmere Foundation School for Boys Bexley (LB) 
			 Kelsey Park Kelsey Park Sports College Bromley (LB) 
			 Priory (Bromley) Priory School Bromley (LB) 
			 Archbishop Lanfranc Archbishop Lanfranc School Croydon (LB) 
			 West London Academy West London Academy Enfield (LB) 
			 Lea Valley Lea Valley High School Enfield (LB) 
			 Eltham Green Eltham Green Specialist Sports College Greenwich (LB) 
			 Hackney Free and Parochial Hackney Free and Parochial CofE College Hackney (LB) 
			 St. Thomas More for Boys St. Thomas More Catholic School Haringey (LB) 
			 Harrow High Harrow High School and Sports College Harrow (LB) 
			 Coopers Company and Coborn Coopers Company and Coborn School Havering (LB) 
			 Emerson Park Emerson Park School Havering (LB) 
			 Feltham Feltham Community College Hounslow (LB) 
			 Islington CEA Holloway School Islington (LIB) 
			 Chessington (Kingston) Chessington Sports College Kingston upon Thames (LB) 
			 London Nautical School/Lambeth London Nautical School Lambeth (LB) 
			 Langdon School Langdon School Newham (LB) 
			 Caterham Caterham High School Redbridge (LB) 
			 Whitton (Richmond) Whitton School and Sports College Richmond Upon Thames (LB) 
			 Harris Girls Harris Girls Academy Southwark (LB) 
			 Langdon Park Langdon Park Community School Tower Hamlets (LB) 
			 Rush Croft Rush Croft School Waltham Forest (LB) 
			 Southfields Ernest Bevin Southfields Community College Wandsworth (LB) 
		
	
	
		
			  Table (b): Specialist sports colleges 
			  School name  LA name 
			 Barking Abbey School Barking and Dagenham 
			 St. James' Catholic High School Barnet 
			 Whitefield School Barnet 
			 Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School Bexley 
			 Erith School Bexley 
			 Hurstmere Foundation School for Boys Bexley 
			 Kelsey Park Sports College Bromley 
			 The Priory School Bromley 
			 The Archbishop Lanfranc School Croydon 
			 Woodcote High School Croydon 
			 Featherstone High School Ealing 
			 Lea Valley High School Enfield 
			 Eltham Green Specialist Sports College Greenwich 
			 Hackney Free and Parochial Church of Hackney 
			 England Secondary School Haringey 
			 St .Thomas More RC School Harrow 
			 Harrow High School and Sports College Havering 
			 Emerson Park School Havering 
			 The Coopers' Company and Coborn School Hounslow 
			 Feltham Community College Hounslow 
			 Isleworth and Syon School for Boys Islington 
			 Holloway School Ealing 
			 Chessington Community College Kingston upon Thames 
			 London Nautical School Lambeth 
			 Cumberland School Newham 
			 Langdon School Newham 
			 Caterham High School Redbridge 
			 Whitton School Richmond upon Thames 
			 Carshalton Boys Sports College Sutton 
			 The John Fisher School Sutton 
			 Langdon Park Community School Tower Hamlets 
			 Rush Croft Sports College Waltham Forest 
			 Ernest Bevin College Wandsworth 
			 Southfields Community College Wandsworth 
			 Charters School Windsor and Maidenhead 
			 St. Martin in the Fields High School for Girls(1) Lambeth 
			 Trinity Catholic High School(1) Redbridge 
			 (1) School has sports as a second specialism

Schools: Hendon

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether any schools in Hendon were  (a) put into and  (b) taken out of special measures in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: No schools in Hendon have been placed in or removed from special measures in the last 12 months.
	We expect local authorities to take early action to prevent school failure, and prompt and decisive action to tackle it where it occurs. Our ambition is for every school to be a good school providing high quality education.

Schools: Hendon

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many  (a) school support staff,  (b) teachers and  (c) teaching assistants there are in Hendon schools; how many there were in 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The following table provides the full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants, support staff, and teachers employed in maintained nursery, primary, secondary, special schools and pupil referral units in Hendon constituency, January 1997 and 2006.
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent teaching assistants, support staff( 1)  and teachers in maintained nursery, primary, secondary, special schools and pupil referral units in Hendon constituency: January 1997 and 2006 
			   1997  2006 
			 Teaching assistants 90 400 
			 Support staff(1) 290 620 
			 Teachers 980 980 
			 (1) Includes teaching assistants, special needs support staff, minority ethnic pupil support staff, secretaries, bursars, other admin/clerical staff, technicians, matrons/nurses/medical staff, child care staff and other education support staff.  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: Annual School Census (ASC)

Schools: Hendon

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children there were on average in key stage 1 classes in Hendon in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Maintained primary schools( 1) , average size of key stage one classes taught by one teacher( 2) , position in January each year 1997 and 2006 
			   1997  2006( 3) 
			 Hendon parliamentary constituency 28.0 26.5 
			 Barnet local authority 27.9 27.0 
			 England 26.9 25.6 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Classes as taught during the one selected period in each school on the day of the census in January. (3) Includes reception classes.

Schools: Hendon

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of children in primary schools in Hendon reached the required standards in  (a) mathematics,  (b) English,  (c) science and  (d) all three subjects in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The numbers of pupil achieving level 4 or above at key stage 2 are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Percentage of pupils achieving level 4 or above at key stage 2 
			  Subject  Hendon( 1)  England( 1) 
			   1997  2006( 2)  1997  2006( 2) 
			 English 70 82 63 79 
			 Mathematics 69 80 62 76 
			 Science 68 87 69 87 
			 English, mathematics and science 57 74 (3)— 74 
			 (1 )Figure for Hendon is based on maintained schools only. England figures relate to all schools including those independent schools taking part in Key Stage 2 tests. (2) 2006 figures are based on revised data (3) Figure is not available 
		
	
	Primary standards as measured by the results from the key stage 2 national curriculum tests in 2006 areat their highest ever levels. Since 1997 there has been a 16 percentage point increase in the proportion of 11-year-old pupils in England achieving the targetlevel 4 or above in English and a 14 percentage point increase in the proportion achieving the target level 4 or above in mathematics. Through the work of the Primary National Strategy we have enabled around 95,000 more 11-year-olds to master literacy and 83,000 more to master numeracy this year compared with 1997.
	Although we have made significant progress, we are redoubling our efforts to help the one in five 11-year-olds who are still not reaching the standard required of their age in literacy and mathematics. That is why we are renewing our literacy strategy with phonics at the heart of the teaching of reading and renewing our numeracy strategy with more demanding standards of mental arithmetic.

Schools: Hendon

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what financial support for schools in Hendon is being paid direct to head teachers  (a) in 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Direct payments to head teachers are paid as School Standards Grant (SSG) and School Standards Grant (Personalisation). The grants are paid to local authorities who must pass the money straight on to schools, calculated on a formula set by the Government. The allocations of SSG and SSG (Personalisation) for each school in Hendon for 2006-07 are set out as follows. Figures for 2007-08 are not available. For England as a whole, SSG and SSG (Personalisation) will rise from £1.232 billion in 2006-07 to £1.557 billion in 2007-08.

Schools: Special Measures

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in special measures have been in special measures for  (a) more than three terms,  (b) more than six terms and  (c) more than nine terms.

Jim Knight: The following table gives details of the number of schools in special measures for more than three terms.
	
		
			   Less than three month  More than three terms but less than six terms  More than six terms but less than nine terms  More than nine terms  Total number of schools in special measures 
			 Number of schools in special measures 139 99 1 1 240 
			  Note: These figures have been calculated on the number of schools in special measures (excluding schools that are waiting for the initial judgement to be moderated) at 1 February 2007

Schools: Sports

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of19 January 2007,  Official Report, column 455, on competition managers, how many of the competitions identified are considered new competitions.

Jim Knight: Further to my answer of 19 January 2007, I can confirm that the 765 competitions delivered were new competitions.

Schools: Standards

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure all schools attain the standards of education set by Ofsted.

Jim Knight: This Government have placed a high priority on investing in schools. This has led to higher standards and Ofsted have recently confirmed this. There are now 604 high achieving schools—where70 per cent. or more pupils gain five good GCSEs—up seven-fold from 83 in 1997.
	The New Relationship with Schools enables schools to drive their own improvement, becoming more accountable and autonomous. Schools, with appropriate challenge and support, determine their improvement priorities.
	The Primary and Secondary National Strategies support and challenge schools by developing and disseminating good practice in teaching and learning through personalisation and intervention (both at pupil and whole school level).
	Despite a small rise in the number of schools in special measures, the total still remains below 1 per cent. of all schools, and half the number that were in special measures in 1998. The number normally increases at the end of the autumn term when there are more inspections before returning to previous levels in the summer. But we are not complacent and are turning these schools around more quickly. Overall the number of schools failing to get five good GCSEs for a quarter of their pupils has dropped from over 600 in 1997 to 47 today.
	We have raised the bar, so that schools which previously would have avoided attention now find themselves in special measures. We make no apology for this tough stance against failing or coasting schools.
	The Five Year Strategy for Children and Learners: Maintaining Excellent Progress sets out in more detail the Government's progress in delivering our ambitious programme of reform. A copy of this document is available in the House of Commons Library.

Students

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many part-time  (a) undergraduates and  (b) postgraduates entered higher education in each academic year between 1997-98 and 2006-07, broken down by socioeconomic background.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 25 January 2007
	The latest available information for part-time entrants to undergraduate and postgraduate courses is shown in the table. Information for 2006-07 will be available from January 2008. Information on the socio-economic background of these students is not available.
	The latest figures for acceptances to full-time undergraduate courses from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) show that the percentage of acceptances from lower socio-economic groups has not fallen between 2004-05 and 2006-07.
	From 2007-08, the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) will collect data on the parental educationof both full-time and part-time entrants to higher education. These data should provide useful information on the socio-economic background of these students.
	
		
			  Number of part-time UK domiciled entrants to higher education institutions( 1)  in England by level of study—academic years 1997-98 to 2005-06 
			   Level of study 
			   Undergraduates  Postgraduates  Total 
			 1997-98 138,605 70,215 208,815 
			 1998-99 164,885 78,595 243,480 
			 1999-2000 167,250 75,495 242,740 
			 2000-01 181,625 75,090 256,715 
			 2001-02 186,685 74,910 261,595 
			 2002-03 205,450 77,475 282,925 
			 2003-04 209,655 78,625 288,280 
			 2004-05 222,335 78,850 301,185 
			 2005-06 215,795 78,070 293,865 
			 (1) Including Open University  Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest five, and are based on a snapshot count of students as at 1 December of each year.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

Teachers: Manpower

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many  (a) teachers and  (b) support staff there were in schools in each local education authority in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2006.

Jim Knight: The following table provides the number of full-time equivalent teachers and support staff employed in local authority maintained schools by local authority for January 1997 and 2006.
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent regular teachers (excluding occasionals) and support staff( 1)  in the local authority( 2,3)  maintained sector by local authority and Government Office Region in England: January 1997 and 2006 
			   1997  2006 
			   Teachers  Support Staff( 1)  Teachers  Support Staff( 1) 
			 Gateshead 1,680 370 1,660 880 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 2,120 580 2,160 1,340 
			 North Tyneside 1,650 440 1,750 1,020 
			 South Tyneside 1,370 280 1,410 750 
			 Sunderland 2,660 730 2,690 1,590 
			 Hartlepool 840 210 880 660 
			 Middlesbrough 1,380 400 1,140 890 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1,300 330 1,340 860 
			 Stockton on Tees 1,650 460 1,780 1,010 
			 Former Durham 4,910 1,230 — — 
			 Darlington — — 830 530 
			 Durham (post 1 April 1997) — — 4,300 2,430 
			 Northumberland 2,630 650 2,830 1,660 
			  
			  North East 22,200 5,690 22,800 13,630 
			 Cumbria 4,030 1,150 4,750 2,390 
			 Former Cheshire 8,190 2,280 — — 
			 Cheshire (post 1 April 1998) — — 5,770 3,170 
			 Halton — — 1,140 620 
			 Warrington — — 1,880 1,010 
			 Bolton 2,440 680 2,550 1,780 
			 Bury 1,460 .430 1,590 930 
			 Manchester 3,850 1,240 3,920 2,940 
			 Oldham 2,240 720 2,350 1,590 
			 Rochdale 1,830 510 1,950 1,470 
			 Salford 1,920 720 1,910 1,290 
			 Stockport 2,220 760 2,270 1,370 
			 Tameside 1,830 490 2,020 1,310 
			 Trafford 1,750 420 2,010 950 
			 Wigan 2,760 700 2.800 1,730 
			 Former Lancashire 11,870 3,520 — — 
			 Lancashire (post 1 April 1998) — — 9,950 6,370 
			 Blackburn with Darwen — — 1,480 1,120 
			 Blackpool — — 1,260 850 
			 Knowsley 1,530 500 1,470 1,020 
			 Liverpool 4,340 1,180 4,290 2,470 
			 St Helens 1,590 480 1,570 1,030 
			 Sefton 2,540 750 2,520 1,510 
			 Wirral 2,930 660 3,020 1,750 
			  
			  North West 59,300 17,190 62,500 38,680 
			 Kingston-Upon-Hull, City of 2,080 730 2,260 1,830 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 2,410 810 2,770 1,870 
			 North East Lincolnshire 1,370 450 1,410 1,170 
			 North Lincolnshire 1,290 400 1,390 970 
			 North Yorkshire (post 1 April 1996) 4,580 1,190 5,170 2,870 
			 York 1,290 310 1,370 790 
			 Barnsley 1,620 680 1,790 1,300 
			 Doncaster 2,690 1,040 2,720 1,800 
			 Rotherham 2,360 620 2,500 1,790 
			 Sheffield 3,930 1,180 4,230 2,880 
			 Bradford 4,660 2,080 4,630 4,000 
			 Calderdale 1,770 680 2,020 1,380 
			 Kirklees 3,260 1,140 3,600 2,510 
			 Leeds 5,900 2,570 6,180 4,610 
			 Wakefield 2,670 1,000 2,830 1,910 
			  
			  Yorkshire and the Humber 41,900 14,870 44,900 31,680 
			 Former Derbyshire 7,530 2,360 — — 
			 Derbyshire (post 1 April 1997) — — 6,270 3,670 
			 Derby — — 2,110 1,440 
			 Former Leicestershire 7,690 2,600 — — 
			 Leicestershire (post 1 April 1997) — — 5,350 3,570 
			 Leicester — — 2,820 2,080 
			 Rutland — — 260 200 
			 Lincolnshire 5,130 1,700 5,710 3,840 
			 Northamptonshire 5,500 1,870 5,710 4,160 
			 Former Nottinghamshire 7,810 2,420 — — 
			 Nottinghamshire (post 1 April 1998) — — 6,390 3,720 
			 Nottingham — — 2,250 1,660 
			  
			  East Midlands 33,700 10,960 36,900 24,340 
			 Former Hereford and Worcester 5,370 1,460   
			 Herefordshire — — 1,440 830 
			 Worcestershire — — 4,730 2,820 
			 Former Shropshire 3,330 1,110 — — 
			 Shropshire (post 1 April 1998) — — 2,240 1,430 
			 Telford and Wrekin —  1,370 1,010 
			 Former Staffordshire 8,510 2,680   
			 Staffordshire (post 1 April 1997) — — 7,140 4,130 
			 Stoke-on-Trent — — 2,000 1,580 
			 Warwickshire 3,870 1,290 4,380 2,710 
			 Birmingham 9,910 3,380 10,400 7,190 
			 Coventry 2,800 990 2,980 1,960 
			 Dudley 2,690 680 2,890 1,820 
			 Sandwell 2,730 830 2,760 2,020 
			 Solihull 1,850 560 1,980 1,170 
			 Walsall 2,590 830 2,700 1,740 
			 Wolverhampton 2,230 720 2,420 1,570 
			  
			  West Midlands 45,900 14,520 49,400 31,980 
			 Former Cambridgeshire 5,400 2,470 — — 
			 Cambridgeshire (post 1 April 1998) — — 4,380 3,170 
			 Peterborough — — 1,680 1,580 
			 Norfolk 5,940 1,900 6,350 4,330 
			 Suffolk 5,330 1,510 5,710 3,460 
			 Former Bedfordshire 4,990 1,760   
			 Bedfordshire (post 1 April 1997) — — 3,750 2,470 
			 Luton — — 1,740 1,520 
			 Former Essex 12,580 4,840 — — 
			 Essex (post 1 April 1998) — — 11,230 7,600 
			 Southend-on-Sea — — 1,750 1,170 
			 Thurrock — — 1,280 1,090 
			 Hertfordshire 9,040 3,090 10,180 6,070 
			  
			  East of England 43,300 15,570 48,000 32,440 
			 City of London 20 10 10 10 
			 Camden 1,500 490 1,520 1,050 
			 Greenwich 2,070 730 2,330 1,630 
			 Hackney 1,450 490 1,640 1,160 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 930 390 1,110 770 
			 Islington 1,420 480 1,450 980 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 680 310 700 540 
			 Lambeth 1,710 690 1,740 1,380 
			 Lewisham 1,870 650 1,930 1,390 
			 Southwark 1,750 760 2,040 1.750 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,270 850 2,420 2,000 
			 Wandsworth 1,690 770 1,860 1,510 
			 Westminster 1,140 370 1,240 790 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,450 540 1,700 960 
			 Barnet 2,770 810 2,830 1,700 
			 Bexley 1,860 510 2,170 1,320 
			 Brent 2,160 600 2,530 1,390 
			 Bromley 2,270 600 2,710 1,400 
			 Croydon 2,620 910 2,790 1,790 
			 Eating 2,230 680 2,350 1,260 
			 Enfield 2,550 730 3,030 1,950 
			 Haringey 1,870 630 2,010 1,470 
			 Harrow 1,580 570 1,640 1,110 
			 Havering 1,870 580 2,160 1,270 
			 Hillingdon 2,000 740 2,390 1,640 
			 Hounslow 2,000 630 2,190 1,230 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,060 330 1,210 710 
			 Merton 1,210 420 1,270 860 
			 Newham 2,190 700 2.900 2,390 
			 Redbridge 2,100 590 2,650 1,600 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1,070 290 1,100 610 
			 Sutton 1,390 420 1,730 970 
			 Waltham Forest 2,010 740 2,170 1,510 
			  
			  London 56,800 18,980 63,500 42,150 
			 Former Berkshire 6,280 2,190 — — 
			 Bracknell Forest — — 850 550 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead — — 1,170 740 
			 West Berkshire — — 1,540 1,050 
			 Reading — — 1,050 690 
			 Slough — — 1,290 960 
			 Wokingham — — 1,360 870 
			 Former Buckinghamshire 5,370 1,880 — — 
			 Buckinghamshire (post 1 April 1997) — — 4,280 2,610 
			 Milton Keynes — — 2,200 1,590 
			 Former East Sussex 5,110 1,780   
			 East Sussex (post 1 April 1997) — — 3,750 2,790 
			 Brighton and Hove — — 1,710 1,150 
			 Former Hampshire 11,990 5,280 — — 
			 Hampshire (post 1 April 1997) — — 9,620 6,150 
			 Portsmouth — — 1,390 1,170 
			 Southampton — — 1,680 1,210 
			 Isle of Wight 1,020 410 1,170 900 
			 Former Kent 13,180 4,970 — — 
			 Kent (post 1 April 1998) — — 12,590 8,790 
			 Medway — — 2,540 1,780 
			 Oxfordshire 4,270 1,720 4,920 3,380 
			 Surrey 7,220 2,800 7,690 5,240 
			 West Sussex 5,400 1,950 6,250 4,100 
			  
			  South East 59,800 22,980 67,000 45,720 
			 Isles of Scilly 20 10 30 10 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 1,370 410 1,400 860 
			 City of Bristol 2,900 1,110 2,800 1,900 
			 North Somerset 1,450 450 1,570 880 
			 South Gloucestershire 1,970 600 2,230 1,120 
			 Cornwall 3,610 1,600 4,270 3,030 
			 Former Devon 7,700 2,670 — — 
			 Devon (post 1 April 1998) — — 5,290 3,860 
			 Plymouth — — 2,140 1,710 
			 Torbay — — 1,110 840 
			 Former Dorset 4,730 1,430 — — 
			 Dorset (post 1 April 1997) — — 3,150 2,160 
			 Poole  — 1,070 740 
			 Bournemouth — — 1,150 770 
			 Gloucestershire 4,410 1,230 5,070 2,850 
			 Somerset 3,480 1,580 4,010 2,940 
			 Former Wiltshire 4,690 1,630 — — 
			 Wiltshire (post 1 April 1997) — — 3,680 2,170 
			 Swindon — — 1,600 1,070 
			  
			  South West 36,300 12,730 40,600 26,920 
			  
			  England 399,200 133,480 435,600 287,530 
			 (1.) Includes teaching assistants, special needs support staff, minority ethnic pupil support staff, secretaries, bursars, other admin/clerical staff, technicians, matrons/nurses/medical staff, child care staff and other education support staff. (2). Figures are for the maintained sector. Teachers in Academies (including those that were previously maintained schools) are not included. (3). The first, second and third phases of local government reorganisation came into effect on 1 April 1996, 1 April 1997 and 1 April 1998 respectively. The new authorities are shown directly below their former parent local authorities.  Note: Totals may not appear equal to the sum of the component parts because of rounding.  Source:  DfES annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies, 618g, teacher numbers and Annual School Census (ASC) for support staff.

Youth Services: Funding

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding he is making available to local authorities to  (a) fund youth centres and  (b) prevent anti-social behaviour.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Government makes available funds to local authorities each year to provide youth work activities. It is for the local authority to plan and manage how this funding is deployed for youth work provision, including youth centres. Information is not held centrally on the number of youth centres at local, regional or national level, or the funding allocated to them.
	There are a number of programmes that contribute to local authorities' resources to prevent a range of negative outcomes for young people, including involvement in antisocial behaviour. These include resources to improve behaviour and attendance in schools, to improve activities for children and young people, and to improve support for parents. Actual levels of funding from these resources that specifically targets preventing antisocial behaviour are not identifiable.
	Specific funding from DfES that does explicitly target the prevention of antisocial behaviour includes:
	£3.75 million spread over 2006-07 and 2007-08 provided as part of the Respect Action Plan towards practitioner training for Family Intervention Projects.
	£10 million over 2006-07 and 2007-08 for Parenting Early Intervention Pathfinders.
	£39 million in both 2006-07 and 2007-08 for the Positive Activities for Young People Programme.

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to prevent the Singapore-based MPRL company channelling its new investment in Burma through the British Virgin Islands.

Ian McCartney: We are aware of reports that the Singapore-based Myanmar Petroleum Resources Ltd company has reached a production sharing agreement with the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise. If these reports are correct, such an agreement would not be in breach of the EU Common Position on Burma, which bans new investment from EU member states in named Burmese state-owned enterprises. This investment ban does not include Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise. The EU Common Position has been extended to all British Overseas Territories.

China: Human Trafficking

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received of the trafficking of Kachin women across the China-Burma border.

Ian McCartney: We are aware of reports written by the Kachin Women's Association Thailand and Christian Solidarity Worldwide on this issue. On24 January, I met representatives from the Chin and Kachin ethnic groups to discuss human rights violations, including human trafficking. We take every opportunity to raise human rights issues with the regime and remind them of their obligations to adhere to international human rights law.

Kazakhstan: Hinduism

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to Kazakhstan on the persecution of the Hare Krishna community there; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: Our ambassador to Kazakhstan, Paul Brummell, raised the issue with the Kazakh ambassador in London on 22 November 2006, during President Nazarbaev's visit to the UK, and has raised the issue subsequently with officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Astana. On 5 December 2006Mr Brummell met Mr Amanbek Mukhashov, vice chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs and head of the commission set up to examine the issues involving land questions related to the Society of Krishna Consciousness. Mr Brummell emphasised that the demolition of properties in November had provoked considerable concern in the UK, including from hon. Members, human rights organisations and religious groups, including amongst the large Hindu community in the UK. Our consul in Almaty visited the commune in Karasai district on 7 December 2006 to see for himself the result of the authorities' actions. Mr Brummell met again with representatives of the Krishna community in Almaty on 29 January, to be briefed on more recent developments, and our Consul in Almaty attended a meeting on 1 February, organised by the representation of the Organisation on Security and Co-operation in Europe in Kazakhstan, to discuss the case.
	On 5 December 2006 officials from our central Asia section and our human rights group met with other representatives of the Hindu community in the UK, including Gauri Das, President of ISKON-Temple and Arti Patel, Project Co-ordinator for Hindu Forum of Britain, to discuss the situation and possible next steps.
	In reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesborough South and East Cleveland (Dr. Kumar) on 6 December 2006 at Prime Minister's Questions, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said the following:
	"We have made our concerns clear to the Kazakhstan Government. My hon. Friend is absolutely right to say that it is important to make sure, whether in Almaty or anywhere else, that people are free to practise their religious faith. I assure him that we will do all we can, on our own behalf and through the non-governmental organisations with which we are co-operating there, to make sure that Hindus who have been discriminated against in that way are properly protected".
	( Official Report, column 299).
	We will continue to follow this case closely and encourage the Kazakh authorities to pursue a fair and peaceful resolution of this issue.

Overseas Development Assistance

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much spending by her Department was classed as Overseas Development Assistance in each year from 2001 to 2005; and how much is projected for  (a) 2006 and (b) 2007.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 18 January 2007
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Developmentgave to her on 30 January,  Official Report, columns 164-166W, which details the Foreign and Commonwealth Office contributions to Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) from 2001-05. We anticipate ODA spend in 2006-07 and 2007-08 to be at least the same level or higher than that in 2005-06, although precise spend will depend on a number of factors, including the project activities supported in those years.

Uganda

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she has made representations to the Ugandan authorities onthe recent order by the constitutional courts for the immediate release of 19 civilian members of the People's Redemption Army; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) today (UIN 118309).

Uganda

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the stability of  (a) democracy and  (b) the rule of law in Uganda.

Ian McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to the written answers I gave on 6 February 2007,  Official Report, column 828W to him and my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew).
	My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, was not able to meet with Foreign Minister Kutesa at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, but we continue to raise these issues at a high level with the Government of Uganda. Ourhigh commissioner in Kampala, as part of the Partners for Democracy and Governance Group, raisedour concerns about the continued custody of the19 People's Redemption Army detainees to Interior Minister Rugunda on 25 January.

Public Sector: Procurement

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent steps he has taken to co-ordinate Government policy on increasing the sustainability of public procurement.

John Prescott: The sustainability of public procurement comes within the terms of reference of the Energy and Environment Cabinet Committee, of which I am Deputy Chair. This Committee is responsible for developing the Government's energy and environmental policies, monitoring the impact on sustainable developmentof the Government's policies, and considering issues of climate change, security of supply and affordability of energy.

Slave Trade

Dawn Butler: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will support the establishment of a one minute silence for those who died as a result of the slave trade.

John Prescott: The Government have not sought to dictate how individuals and groups remember those who suffered and died as a result of the slave trade, and recognise those who fought for its abolition.
	Some organisations and events are planning to include a silence in their activities, others are not. There are no plans at present for a Government supported silence for those who died as a result of the slave trade.
	With the help of the Advisory Group set up in January 2006 the cultural sector, local authorities and community and faith groups have taken the lead and are organising their own bicentenary events from their own perspective.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Oliver Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers was originally drafted; and what changes were made in the July 2005 edition.

Hilary Armstrong: The "Code of Conduct for Special Advisers" was first introduced in 2001. Itwas revised in July 2005 to take account of recommendations made by the Public Administration Select Committee and the Committee on Standards in Public Life, including clarifying the relationship between special advisers and permanent civil servants and specifying that the role of special advisers is to "assist" Ministers. Copies of both versions of the Code are in the Library should the hon. Member wish to make a detailed comparison.

Post Offices

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what formal role  (a) the Scottish Executive and  (b) Postwatch Scotland have in the consultation on the future of the Post Office network.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Scottish Executive and Postwatch Scotland have no formal role in the national consultation on the future of the Post office network, but comments from these and any other interested parties are welcome.

Post Offices

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the consultation document on the future of the Post Office network, what the definition is of  (a) urban,  (b) rural and  (c) remote rural areas; and if he will list the post offices classified as remote rural, indicating in which (i) local government area and (ii) county each is located.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 6 February 2007
	In relation to the Post Office Network consultation document, an urban area is defined as a settlement of more than 10,000 inhabitants. A rural area is defined as a settlement of less than 10,000 inhabitants. There is no departmental definition of a remote area as no access criteria proposals relate solely to 'remote' areas.
	Alongside the Government's proposed national access criteria, is the criterion that 95 per cent. of the population in postcode districts should be within six miles of a post office service. Implicit in this criterion is a safeguard for people in remote areas who might otherwise not have been assured of reasonable accessibility to services under nationally-applied criteria alone.

Asset Disposals

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer given by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Rayleigh (Mr. Francois) of 8 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 417-18W, 
	(1)  if she will list all fixed asset disposals in her departmental group in  (a) 2004-05 and  (b) 2005-06, broken down by the organisations which disposed of the fixed assets; and what the function or former function was of each fixed asset disposed of;
	(2)  on Government assets, if she will list the fixed assets disposals in her Department group in  (a) 2004-05 and  (b) 2005-06; who each asset disposed of was sold to; what plans she has for the disposal of fixed assets in each of the next five years; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The information is shown in the tables.
	Over the next five years, the Department will continue to dispose of assets within the retained estate that are surplus to the requirements of the national health service.
	
		
			  Land sales from the Department's retained estate, 2004-05 
			  Property  Purchaser  Previous function 
			 18 Bryon Road, Redditch Mr. and Mrs. K. Taylor Housing 
			 21/23 Coulter Lane, Burntwood S. Darlington Offices 
			 7 Wells Lane Terrace, Cheddleton Privatelink Ltd. Housing 
			 Land at Mickledale Lane, Bilsthorpe Primary Health Investment Properties Ltd. Open land 
			 317 Mansfield Road, Nottingham Corrington Private Day Nursery Offices 
			 Watling Street Clinic, Bishop Auckland New College, Durham Clinic 
			 Land at Burnhill Way, Newton Aycliffe Broseley Homes Open land 
			 Land at Newton Aycliffe Hospital Wimpey Homes Part of hospital 
			 Bus Shelter Poole Hospital, Middlesbrough Mr. and Mrs. Parkinson Part of hospital 
			 Gables and land, Winterton, Sedgefield Durham CC Group Home 
			 7 Springfield Street, Warrington Andrea McKay Associates Offices 
			 113 Coldharbour Road, Sherbourne N. Denison and J. McLoughlin Housing 
			 Holsworthy Ambulance Station and Health Centre Devon CC Ambulance Station and Health Centre 
			 Part Western Hospital, Crediton K. Hotton Part of hospital 
			 Land at Hanham Hall, Hanham South Gloucestershire Council Part of hospital 
			 Waterside Surgery (freehold reversion) Dr. Greaves and Partners Surgery 
			 Land at Lord Mayor Treloar, Alton Dr. Quincey, Dr. Sword, Dr. White and Dr. Over Part of hospital 
			 10 Gunn Street, Reading Property Development and Rental Ltd. Offices 
			 Land at Langney, Eastbourne B. O. Hastings Ltd. Open land 
			 Land at St. Ebba's, Epsom Riding for Disabled Agricultural land 
			 St. Ebba's Cottage, Epsom Rosewell Properties Ltd. Housing 
			 Land at Joyce Green, Dartford Dartford BC Part of hospital 
			 Warley Lodge, Warley J. Brady Housing 
		
	
	
		
			  Land sales from the Department's retained estate 2005-06 
			  Property  Purchaser  Previous function 
			 Land at Princess Royal, Telford Shropshire and Mid-Wales Hospice Land 
			 St. Margaret's, Birmingham Bovis Homes Ltd. Hospital 
			 St. Crispin's Social Club, Northampton St. Crispin's Social Club Social club 
			 Land at Tower's Hospital, Leicester Taylor Woodrow Part of hospital 
			 Land at Warley Woods Crescent L. Traynor Part of hospital 
			 Land at Dry Leys, Peterborough R. Boxall Land 
			 1/3 Nightingale Close, Mulbarton S. and J. Grady Group home 
			 High Royd's, Menston Raven Group Hospital 
			 Killingbeck, Leeds Shepherd Homes Hospital 
			 Land at Neville Drive, Sedgefield Mclnerney Homes Part of hospital 
			 30 Windermere Gardens, Gateshead Newcastle and Whitby Housing Trust Group home 
			 St. Oswald's Hospice, Newcastle St. Oswald's Hospice Hospice 
			 New Lodge, Whittingham Mr. and Mrs. Faulkener Housing 
			 Middleton Hospital, Ilkley Middleton Construction Ltd. Hospital 
			 10 Mayroyd Avenue, Tolworth J. Muscat Housing 
			 47 Gainsborough Road, Epsom J. Muscat Housing 
			 Conolly House, Napsbury Osman Mehmar Ltd. Part of hospital 
			 Colvend, Napsbury P. Allen and S. Munoz Part of hospital 
			 121 Cranleigh Mead, Cranleigh Mrs. Denton-Miller Housing 
			 19 Netherne Lane, Coulsdon J. Muscat Housing 
			 24 Park Road, Maidstone Regis Group (Nationwide) Ltd. Housing 
			 40 Park Road, Maidstone Regis Group (Nationwide) Ltd. Housing 
			 46 Park Road, Maidstone S. and G. Johnson Housing 
			 2 Brambletye Park Road, Redhill J. Muscat Housing 
			 Land at Joyce Green, Dartford Dartford BC Part of hospital 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Banstead Try Homes Ltd. Hospital 
			 Silverlands, Chertsey Astor Care Ltd. Nurse training 
			 Bungalow, Woodplace Lane, Coulsdon D. Kennedy Housing 
			 Glenside, Bristol University of West of England Nurse training 
			 Merrafield Nursing Home (freehold interest) C. Brien Nursing home 
		
	
	
		
			  Retained estate—portfolio transfer to English Partnerships, 2005-06 
			  Property  Previous function 
			 Land at Heath Close, Billericay Open land 
			 Land adjoining Reckett House, Clacton Land 
			 Part Severalls Hospital Site, Colchester Hospital 
			 Turner Village, Colchester Hospital 
			 Land at St. Mary's Axminster Part of Hospital 
			 Cashes Green Hospital, Stroud Hospital 
			 St. Leonards, Ringwood Hospital 
			 Tiverton District Hospital, Tiverton Hospital 
			 Belmont Hospital, Tiverton Hospital 
			 Newfoundland Court, Bristol Offices 
			 Brunel House, Gloucester Offices 
			 Cottages 1 to 5, Herrison Housing 
			 Lower Farm Buildings, Herrison Farm buildings 
			 Sewer Field, Herrison Agricultural land 
			 Hanham Hall, Bristol Hospital 
			 Part Countess of Chester, Chester Hospital 
			 Whittingham, Preston Hospital 
			 Winwick Farm, Warrington Agricultural land 
			 Winwick Social Club, Warrington Social club 
			 Land at Lancaster Moor, Lancaster Hospital 
			 Homelands Hospital, Crook Hospital 
			 Killingworth Stores, Killingworth Storage and land 
			 Maiden Law Hospital, Durham Hospital 
			 Part St. Georges Hospital, Morpeth Hospital 
			 Land at Aycliffe Hospital, Newton Aycliffe Part of hospital 
			 Birney Hill Farm, Ponteland Agricultural land 
			 Stannington Children's Hospital, Stannington Hospital 
			 Ashington General Hospital, Ashington Hospital 
			 Part Shotley Bridge Hospital, Consett Hospital 
			 Tindale Crescent, Bishop Auckland Hospital 
			 Hull Maternity Hospital, Hull Hospital 
			 Land at Seacroft Hospital, Leeds Part of hospital 
			 Part Wharfdale Hospital, Otley Hospital 
			 Land at Springfield, Grimsby Agricultural land 
			 Scartho Hall, Grimsby Offices 
			 Scartho Hall—site opposite, Grimsby Land 
			 Land at Norton Aerodrome, Sheffield Commercial 
			 Lord Mayor Treloar, Alton Hospital 
			 Park Prewett, Basingstoke Hospital 
			 St. Augustines, Chartham Hospital 
			 Land at the Crescent and the Downs, Chartham Land 
			 Mabledon, Dartford Hospital 
			 Alpha House, Droxford Hostel 
			 Part St. Ebbas, Epsom Hospital 
			 Horton Farm, Epsom Agricultural land 
			 Retail Centre site, Horton, Epsom Part of hospital 
			 Part West Park Hospital, Epsom Hospital 
			 Part Coldeast Hospital, Fareham Hospital 
			 Knowle Hospital, Wickham Part of hospital 
			 Land at St. Francis Hospital, Haywards Heath Part of hospital 
			 Leybourne Grange, Maidstone Hospital 
			 Linton Hospital, Maidstone Hospital 
			 Part Milford Hospital, Milford Hospital 
			 Land at Royal Earlswood, Redhill Agricultural land 
			 Land at Hill House, Rye Hospital 
			 Sheppey Hospital, Sheppey Hospital 
			 Part Southlands Hospital, Shoreham Hospital 
			 Hazel Farm, Southampton Part of hospital 
			 Land at St. Johns Hospital, Stone Part of hospital 
			 Part Tatchbury Hospital, Calmore Hospital 
			 Fair Mile Hospital, Cholsey Hospital 
			 Land at Celsea Place, Cholsey Agricultural land 
			 Unit 7 Merlin Court, Aylesbury Offices 
			 Beaumont Villa, Northampton Offices 
			 Coach House, Kingsworthy Offices 
			 Renny Lodge, Newport Pagnell Ambulance station 
			 Stretton Hall Farmland, Oadby Agricultural land 
			 Ashover House, Lincoln Offices 
			 Carey House, Skegness Day centre 
			 Derby City Chest Clinic, Derby Clinic 
			 Barnsley Hall Land, Bromsgrove Part of hospital 
			 Land at the Limes, Himley Agricultural land 
			 Part Lea Castle Hospital, Kidderminster Hospital 
			 Ledbury Cottage Hospital, Ledbury Hospital 
			 Smallwood, Redditch Health centre 
			 Royal Shrewsbury—South Hospital 
			 Land at Chemsley, Solihull Agricultural land 
			 Land at Middlefield, Knowle Part of hospital 
			 Land at Bucknall, Bucknall Part of hospital 
		
	
	
		
			  Sale of vehicles by the Department, 2005-06 
			  Vehicle  Purchaser 
			 KU52 JYJ Arval PHH Ltd. 
			 KX52 RXY Arval PHH Ltd. 
			 FD03 FXC Arval PHH Ltd.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what volume of carbon dioxide is emitted per passenger kilometre by  (a) low cost airlines,  (b) other airlines,  (c) UK buses and  (d) UK mass transit systems.

Gillian Merron: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from aviation are not broken down by low cost and other airlines.
	Data on CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre from aviation, buses and other mass transit systems (rail and tram/light rail) are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Carbon dioxide emissions by mode of transport( 1) 
			  Mode  Grams of CO 2  per passenger km 
			 Air—long haul(2) 112 
			 Air—short haul(2) 148 
			 Bus 95 
			 Rail 36 
			 Tram/light rail(3) 65 
			 (1) Data for air and rail are available in annex 6 of DEFRA's 'Guidelines for Company Reporting on Greenhouse Gas Emissions' (July 2005). (2) 'Long haul' refers to average journeys of 5,000nm and 'short haul' refers to journeys of 500nm. (3) The tram and light rail estimate is an average for the Docklands Light Rail, Croydon Tramlink and Manchester Metrolink.  Source:  AEA Energy and Environment.

Clear Communication Consultants

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2007,  Official Report, column 461W, on Clear Communication consultants, whether her Department has received any unpaid advice from Clear Communications Ltd.

Ivan Lewis: The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, as unremunerated information is not held in such a way that would make it possible to identify such advice separately from other correspondence issues raised.

Clostridium Difficile

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to improve the consistency of  (a) testing and  (b) reporting of cases of  clostridium difficile under the mandatory surveillance system.

Ivan Lewis: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) collects data for the surveillance of  Clostridium difficile associated disease on behalf of the Department.
	In order to improve the quality and consistency of the data, the HPA published criteria for testing and reporting  Clostridium difficile under the mandatory surveillance scheme. Microbiology laboratories should test diarrhoeal stools from all patients over 65 years who have not been diagnosed in the past four weeks for evidence of  Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea, by testing specimens for  Clostridium difficile toxin using either an immunoassay for both toxin A and toxin B, or a neutralised cell toxicity assay. This requirement was re-emphasised in the professional letter from the Chief Medical Officer, Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Pharmacist and Chief Executive of the national health service in December 2006.
	The data for reporting are taken by trusts for their pathology laboratory information management systems and submitted to the HPA. The criteria for reporting were re-stated in the professional letter.
	Robust pathology systems are in place to ensure effective reporting.
	 Note
	Mandatory surveillance of health care associated infections report 2006, www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/hai/MandSurvHCAI2006.pdf

Continence Services

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many incontinence  (a) pads and  (b) pants were supplied by the NHS in each of the last five years; and what steps she is taking to ensure that her Department's guidance Good Practice in Continence Services is fully implemented by NHS trusts;
	(2)  how much was spent by the NHS on incontinence  (a) pads and  (b) pants in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: The Department does not collect information on the number of continence pads and pants supplied by the national health service, or NHS expenditure on such items. It is for professionals in primary care trusts to commission appropriate services for local people, based on current and anticipated needs, and in consultation with stakeholders. In commissioning these services, professionals are expected to have regard to the recommendations outlined in good practice in continence services.

Disabled: Direct Payments

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people were in receipt of direct payments in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how much was spent in the form of direct payments to people with disabilities in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority.

Ivan Lewis: The number of adults aged 18 and over in receipt of direct payments from councils with social services responsibilities in England is given in the following table for the years 2001-02 to 2005-06.
	
		
			  The number of clients in receipt of direct payments 2001-02 to 2005-06, England 
			  Number of clients in receipt of direct payments 
			   Rounded numbers( 1) 
			 2001-02 6,000 
			 2002-03 10,000 
			 2003-04 15,000 
			 2004-05 24,000 
			 2005-062 37,000 
			  Notes:(1) Data have been rounded to the nearest 1,000 (2) Provisional data.  Source: Information Centre, RAP proforma P2f. 
		
	
	Tables showing the amount spent in the form of direct payments to disabled people in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority, have been placed in the Library.

NHS Pensions

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff work for the successor to the NHS Pensions Agency; and what its budget is for 2006-07.

Rosie Winterton: The NHS Pensions Agency is now a division of the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA).
	The current baseline 2006-07 revenue budget for the pensions division is £22.3 million. This covers the administration costs and excludes payments made to and from the NHS pensions scheme as well as NHS student bursaries. There is an additional budget of£5 million identified for the pensions modernisation scheme expenditure.
	The current staffing is 335 whole-time equivalents, which are staff employed by the NHS BSA. This excludes those staff employed by the main contractor who provides part of the service.

Risk Register

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the purpose is of the high-level risk register maintained by the departmental board and referred to in 8.6 of her annual report 2006; and how many risks are entered on it.

Ivan Lewis: The purpose of the risk register is to enable the departmental management board to carry out its functions on the basis of a structured analysis of the main risks facing the Department and the health and social care system. It is established good practice for organisations to make themselves aware of the risks and to develop mitigation strategies. It is in line with HM Treasury requirements, as set out in Government Accounting, and Cabinet Office guidance. The risk register is kept under review by the departmental board and scrutinised by the audit committee. The register currently contains 20 risks.

City Refrigeration Holdings

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what payments from the public purse his Department has made to  (a) City Refrigeration Holdings and  (b) its subsidiary CBES Ltd in each year since 2003.

John Healey: The Chancellor's departments have made no payments to either company, other than the normal tax transactions that may have been conducted by HM Revenue and Customs and its predecessor departments in relation to all businesses.

Employment

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were employed in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 7 January 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people were employed in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 1997. I am replying in her absence. (118223)
	The Office for National Statistics compiles employment statistics for local areas from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	The attached table shows numbers of employed persons, aged 16 and over, in the Jarrow parliamentary constituency, South Tyneside metropolitan borough, the North East and the United Kingdom for the 12 month periods ending in February from 1997 to 2004 from the annual local area LFS and for the 12 months ending in March from 2005 to 2006 from the APS. The table also shows the corresponding working-age employment rates.
	These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty. Changes in the estimates over time should be treated with particular caution.
	
		
			  Employment in the Jarrow parliamentary constituency, South Tyneside metropolitan borough, the North East region and the United Kingdom. 
			  Thousands 
			   Jarrow  South Tyneside  North East  United Kingdom 
			  12 months ending  Level( 1)  Rate( 2) (%)  Level( 1)  Rate( 2) (%)  Level( 1)  Rate( 2) (%)  Level( 1)  Rate( 2) (%) 
			 February 1997 34 62.8 61 64.5 1,049 66.5 26,011 71.9 
			 February 1998 32 68.1 57 65.8 1,053 67.3 26,357 72.6 
			 February 1999 35 71.2 59 64.5 1,047 66.9 26,659 73.3 
			 February 2000 36 67.8 58 64.1 1,041 66.6 26,908 73.6 
			 February 2001 35 67.0 58 63.4 1,064 68.4 27,180 73.9 
			 February 2002 36 68.6 60 65.4 1,062 68.4 27,433 74.1 
			 February 2003 35 69.5 61 65.4 1,067 68.6 27,566 74.0 
			 February 2004 35 67.7 60 65.5 1,069 68.5 27,789 74.1 
			 March 2005 35 68.1 62 66.8 1,100 70.3 28,032 74.3 
			 March 2006 36 69.8 63 67.2 1,104 70.5 28,117 74.1 
			 (1 )Persons aged 16 and over. (2 )Number of persons of working age in employment expressed a percentage of the resident working-age population. Estimates are subject to sampling variability. Changes in the estimates over time should be treated with particular caution.

Income Tax

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the value of income tax payments made by each income decile group in each year since 1997-98;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the value of national insurance payments made by each income decile group in each year since 1997-98.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7( ) February 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking (1) what estimate has been made of the value of income tax payments made by each income decile since 1997-98 (115529) and (2) what estimate has been made of the value of national insurance payments made by each income decile group since 1997-98 (115531).
	Estimates of income tax, and national insurance payments appear in the ONS analysis 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income'. The latest analysis for 2004/05 was published on the National Statistics website on 12th May 2006 at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/taxesbenefits. The analysis is based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey, which is a sample survey covering approximately 7,000 households inthe UK.
	The tables below show the average annual payments of these taxes for households in each income decile. These average payments reflect both the number of households paying each tax, and the size of the payments. Since the results are based on a sample survey, some of the year to year movement is due to sampling variability. However the tables do illustrate longer term trends in the distribution of tax payments.
	
		
			  Average income tax by each household income decile( 1) ,( ) United Kingdom, 1997-98 to 2004-05 
			  £ per year 
			   Decile groups of all households ranked by equivalised disposable income  
			   Bottom  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  Top  All households 
			  At current prices
			 1997-98 239 344 514 1,010 1,764 2,443 3,392 4,693 6,049 11,954 3,240 
			 1998-99 216 354 514 1,027 1,712 2,427 3,254 4,323 5,853 13,169 3,285 
			 1999-2000 174 313 532 1,094 1,771 2,479 3,485 4,531 6,421 13,312 3,411 
			 2000-01 217 394 781 1,293 2,023 2,776 3,956 4,957 6,703 13,450 3,655 
			 
			 2001-02 232 335 666 1,386 1,989 2,781 3,987 5,279 7,338 15,902 3,989 
			 2002-03 196 484 657 1,297 2,024 2,833 4,064 5,459 7,427 15,131 3,957 
			 2003-04 271 359 684 1,277 2,026 2,959 4,004 5,508 7,413 16,266 4,076 
			 2004-05 194 451 809 1,351 2,210 3,030 4,079 5,749 8,094 16,590 4,256 
			 ' From 2002-03 onwards, Income tax is shown after the deduction of any tax credits, which offset payments of income tax. Before 2002-03 tax credits treated as social security benefits. The effects on these figures is small.  Source:  'The effects of taxes and benefits on household Income', ONS 
		
	
	
		
			  Average National insurance contributions by each household income decile, United Kingdom, 1997-98 to 2004-05 
			  £ per year 
			   Decile groups of all households ranked by equivalised disposable income  
			   Bottom  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  Top  All households 
			  At current prices
			 1997-98 75 141 215 414 718 985 1,249 1,646 1,967 2,147 956 
			 1998-99 96 162 236 478 756 1,000 1,348 1,675 2,002 2,330 1,008 
			 1999-2000 84 148 244 466 724 1,038 1,334 1,635 2,147 2,179 1,000 
			 2000-01 82 158 295 459 783 1,054 1,434 1,683 2,006 2,302 1,026 
			 
			 2001-02 84 130 258 456 795 1,068 1,433 1,863 2,342 2,564 1,099 
			 2002-03 79 181 271 520 758 1,029 1,484 1,871 2,222 2,595 1.101 
			 2003-04 92 183 330 610 925 1,301 1,622 2,161 2,616 3,326 1,317 
			 2004-05 90 236 428 636 1,030 1,358 1,724 2,321 3,023 3,506 1,435 
			  Source:  'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income', ONS

Ministerial Visits

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 18 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1341W, on ministerial visits, what the total cost was of the Economic Secretary to the Treasury's trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories on 19th to 20th December 2006.

Edward Balls: I visited Israel and the Occupied Territories in December as part of the work Jon Cunliffe and I are leading on opportunities to support economic development to accompany and enhance the Middle East peace process.
	All ministerial visits are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers. As with all inquiries relating to the cost of ministerial travel, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the information the Government have published on an annual basis since 1999, listing overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 and the total cost of all ministerial travel. Information for 2006-07 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year.

Repossessions

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to reduce property repossessions.

Edward Balls: The latest data published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders shows that the number of repossessions in 2006 was less than one half of the number of repossessions in 1997, and one fifth of the number in 1991 relative to the total size of the mortgage market.
	The Government's aim is to provide a framework of macroeconomic stability, within which people can make informed, responsible borrowing decisions.
	In 2004 the Government extended the scope of FSA regulation to cover mortgages. FSA regulation ensures that borrowers are afforded important protections and have appropriate means of redress.
	On 15 January 2007, the Government launched a long-term approach to financial capability, which will help to improve consumers' understanding of financial products and includes a feasibility study on promoting access to generic preventative financial advice.
	The Government provides targeted support for homeowners in financial difficulty through support for mortgage interest (SMI).

Tax Burden

Alan Milburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average tax burden was on each income decile in each year since 1979.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 February 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the average tax burden was on each income decile in each year since 1979 (105733).
	Estimates of the average tax burden for household income decile groups are based on the ONS analysis 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income'. The latest analysis for 2004/05 was published on the National Statistics website on 12th May 2006 at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/taxesbenefits.
	The analysis is based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey, which is a sample survey covering approximately 7,000 households in the UK.
	The table below shows the average tax burden for each household income decile group. They have been calculated from the numbers appearing in Table 14 of this year's article, and previous versions of the same table. Data has been provided back to 1988, the earliest year for which it is available on a reasonably consistent basis.
	The tax burden is the proportion of gross income taken in both direct and indirect taxes. Gross income includes income from wages, occupational pensions, self-employment income, investment income, and income from state benefits, all beforetax. Direct taxes include income tax, national insurance contributions and council tax. The indirect taxes include VAT, duties, and a number of smaller items such as television licences. Indirect taxes also include intermediate taxes —these are indirect taxes paid by companies which are deemed to be passed onto households through the prices they pay for goods and services. A more detailed breakdown showing each of the different taxes appears in the annual article.
	There was a change in the way the figures were compiled in 2002/03 which will affect the estimated tax burden. Up until 2001/02, charges for water, environmental and sewage services were treated as local taxes, whereas from 2002/03 onwards they were excluded. The local tax category now just includes council tax and Northern Ireland rates, and in the annual article it is labelled as such.
	Based on figures for 2001/02, the effect of this definitional change is to reduce average household payment of local taxes/council tax from 3.0% of gross income to 2.2%. This obviously reduces the overall estimate of the average tax burden by 0.8%.
	There was also a change to the way that tax credits were treated from 2003/04 onwards. Up until 2002/03 tax credits were treated as cash benefits. From 2003/04, they are classified as negative income tax, but only to the extent that income tax less tax credits, remains greater than or equal to zero for each family. So for households paying relatively little or no income tax, tax credit payments were still regarded either partially or wholly, as cash benefits. Based on figures for 2003/04, the effect of this change is to reduce the estimate of the average tax burden for all households by 0.3%.
	The tax burden, when expressed as a proportion of gross income appears particularly high for the bottom income decile, although this result needs to be interpreted carefully. The apparently high tax burden is due to payment of indirect rather than direct taxes Estimates of indirect taxes are imputed based on household expenditure. It should be remembered that measured expenditure will not necessarily balance with measured income for the year. This is especially true for the bottom income decile where average measured income is significantly lower than average expenditure. For these households, when their payment of indirect taxes (which reflect expenditure) are expressed as a proportion of gross income, the result is a high calculated tax burden.
	There are a number of plausible reasons why for some households, expenditure might exceed income. Households with low incomes may draw on their savings or borrow in order to finance their expenditure. In addition, the lower decile in particular includes some groups, who have, or report, very little income (for example, self-employed people starting a business or someone who has just been made redundant). In these cases, expenditure is not being met from current income. Some types of receipts are not included as income in the EFS e.g. inheritance and severance payments. In some cases, the information given on expenditure is not consistent with that on income received because of timing differences.
	
		
			  Average tax burden as a percentage of gross income for each income decile, United Kingdom 1988 to 2004-05 
			  Percentage 
			   Decile groups ranked by households equivalised disposable income  
			   Bottom  2( nd)  3( rd)  4( th)  5( th)  6( th)  7( th)  8( th)  9( th)  Top  All households 
			 1988 45.8 34.5 35.9 38.1 38.3 39.3 38.6 38.6 37.9 32.9 37.0 
			 1989 44.9 33.8 33.9 37.1 38.2 37.8 37.3 37.1 37.2 32.9 36.2 
			 1990 46.3 34.5 34.9 37.8 36.2 36.9 37.1 35.7 35.5 32.2 35.4 
			 1991 43.3 33.3 33.4 36.4 36.5 36.8 36.8 36.2 35.5 32.4 35.2 
			 1992 47.1 33.5 33.0 34.4 36.3 36.7 36.4 35.4 35.0 33.7 35.3 
			 1993 46.2 33.8 32.7 34.4 36.0 36.7 36.8 36.3 36.5 34.3 35.8 
			 1994-95 44.6 33.9 32.5 34.3 35.7 37.0 36.9 37.5 36.9 35.4 36.3 
			 1995-96 51.0 34.2 34.1 37.3 37.0 37.8 37.8 37.6 38.1 35.8 37.3 
			 1996-97 44.0 32.6 33.6 35.7 35.6 37.2 37.0 37.1 37.0 33.9 35.9 
			 1997-98 44.0 33.5 32.9 35.5 36.0 36.5 37.4 37.8 36.5 34.6 36.1 
			 1998-99 47.7 34.9 33.9 35.9 37.0 37.9 38.3 38.1 37.4 35.7 37.1 
			 1999-2000 50.4 35.4 33.4 36.8 37.3 37.5 37.5 38.3 37.1 33.8 36.5 
			 2000-01 47.6 36.6 35.8 36.7 37.6 38.0 38.2 38.2 37.6 34.2 36.9 
			 2001-02 53.3 34.7 32.7 34.9 35.7 36.1 36.9 36.1 36.3 33.6 35.6 
			 2002-03(1) 46.6 32.3 30.7 33.5 34.3 35.1 35.6 35.3 35.2 35.0 35.0 
			 2003-04(2) 44.3 33.3 31.6 33.6 34.4 35.9 36.5 36.4 36.7 34.8 35.5 
			 2004-05 42.6 32.4 31.8 33.3 35.1 34.9 36.2 35.8 36.7 34.9 35.3 
			 (1) From 2002-03 onwards charges for water, environmental and sewage services were no longer treated as a tax. (2) From 2003-04 onwards tax credits were treated as a negative tax.  Source: 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income', ONS

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the operation of the IT systems for tax credits between30 September 2006 and 31 January 2007; how many payments were made manually in each month over this period; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The performance of the tax credit system is continually monitored and is proving to be stable.
	The number of manual payments made in each month between 30 September 2006 and 31 January 2007 was around:
	
		
			   Number of payments (Thousand) 
			 October 2006 25 
			 November 35 
			 December 20 
			 January 2007 45 
		
	
	The allocation of payments to precise payment dates requires a degree of estimation and are therefore rounded to the nearest 5,000.

Tax Credits

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many notices warning of legal proceedings if payment is not made have been sent to individuals claiming tax credits who are in dispute with HM Revenue and Customs.

Dawn Primarolo: Where H M Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has tried but failed to contact a customer by telephone or where HMRC does not have their telephone number a letter is issued asking for payment and advising that enforcement action may be taken. In January 2007 approximately 30,000 such letters were issued and HMRC are aware that a number of customers have stated that they dispute the debt but were unable to contact the Department by telephone to confirm this due to a heavy volume of incoming telephone calls. The Department has no exact statistics on the number of cases involved but have now stopped issue of the letters and are reviewing the process for telephone call handling.

Tax Statistics

Alan Milburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the average per capita tax paid by each income decile group.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 February 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking what the most recent estimate is of the average per capita tax paid by each income decile group. (115448)
	Estimates of the tax paid by households are provided in the ONS analysis "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income". The latest analysis for 2004-05 was published on the National Statistics website on 12 May 2006 at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/taxesbenefits. The analysis is based on data from the expenditure and food survey, which is a sample survey covering approximately 7,000 households in the UK.
	The results in the article are presented for households rather than on a per capita basis. However, the following table shows average tax paid per capita within each household decile group. A more detailed breakdown showing each of the different taxes appears in the annual article (although presented as household averages, rather than per capita).
	The direct taxes include income tax (after deduction of tax credits), employees' National Insurance contributions, and council tax. The indirect taxes include VAT, and duties, and a number of smaller items such as television licences. Indirect taxes also include intermediate taxes - these are indirect taxes paid by companies which are deemed to be passed onto households through the prices they pay for goods and services. More details are available in the article.
	
		
			  Average per capita tax paid by each household income decile, United Kingdom 2004-05 
			  £ per year 
			   Decile groups of households ranked by equivalised disposal income 
			   Bottom  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  Top  All households 
			 Direct taxes(1) 826 1,234 1,854 2,683 4,047 5,261 6,738 9,076 12,195 21,321 6,523 
			 Indirect taxes(2) 2,738 2,979 3,106 3,713 4,439 4,692 5,297 5,715 6,560 8,099 4,734 
			 Average per capita tax 3,564 4,213 4,960 6,396 8,485 9,953 12,035 14,791 18,754 29,420 11,257 
			 (1) Direct taxes/include income tax (after deduction of tax credits), employees' national insurance contributions, and council tax. (2) Indirect taxes include VAT, duties, and a number of smaller items such as television licences.  Source: 'The offsets of taxes and benefits on household income 2004/09, ONS'

Taxation: Self-assessment

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost to  (a) an individual taxpayer,  (b) a partnership taxpayer and  (c) a trust taxpayer of filing their tax returnonline if they are required to file all the additional supplementary pages;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the amount spent by taxpayers on purchasing software necessary to file their tax returns online.

Dawn Primarolo: Self assessment tax returns can be filed online using either HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) full SA online service or proprietary software produced by commercial software vendors. Most proprietary software purchased to facilitate online filing of self assessment tax returns is bought by tax agents and is typically part of a broader package embodying accountancy and client management facilities. As such, no estimate of these costs has been made.
	Most individual taxpayers can file their self assessment tax returns online using HMRC's free online service which covers most circumstances. Other individual taxpayers filed using proprietary software, the cost of which varies.
	Partners can also file their own tax returns using HMRC's free online service. But both the partnership and trust return can only be filed using proprietary software.

Unemployment

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of unemployment was in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 7 January 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the level of unemployment was in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 1997. I am replying in her absence. (118227)
	For unitary and local authorities, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) produces estimates of total unemployment from a statistical model. For all other estimates of unemployment for local areas, ONS compiles statistics from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	Table 1, attached, shows the numbers of unemployed, aged 16 and over, resident in the Jarrow constituency, the North East region and the United Kingdom, for the 12 months ending in February from 1997 to 2004, from the annual local area LFS and for the 12 months ending in March 2005 and 2006, from the APS and the corresponding unemployment rates which are defined as the number of unemployed expressed as a percentage of the economically active population. Corresponding model-based estimates are provided for South Tyneside except for the 12 months ending March 2005 for which estimates are currently unavailable.
	These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty. In particular, estimates for Jarrow are for a subset of the population in a small geographical area and thus are based on very small sample sizes. In this case, the sample sizes are not sufficient to give an accurate estimate of even the direction of the change over the period. The model-based estimates are subject to random variability.
	ONS also compiles statistics for local areas of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). Table 2, attached, shows the annual average number of people, resident in the Jarrow constituency, South Tyneside metropolitan borough, the North East region and the United Kingdom, claiming JSA from 1997 to 2006. The table also includes these figures expressed as a proportion of the resident working-age population.
	
		
			  Table 1: Unemployment in the Jarrow parliamentary constituency, South Tyneside metropolitan borough, the North East region and the United Kingdom. 
			  Thousand 
			   Jarrow  South Tyneside( 1)  North East  United Kingdom 
			  12 months ending  Level  Rate( 2)  (%)  Level  Rate( 2)  (%)  Level  Rate( 2) (%)  Level  Rate( 2 ) (%) 
			 February 1997 5 13.7 8 11.8 118 10.1 2,207 7.8 
			 February 1998 5 14.1 8 11.6 106 9.2 1,911 6.8 
			 February 1999 3 6.9 7 10.2 93 8.2 1,730 6.1 
			 February 2000 4 10.5 8 12.7 107 9.3 1,689 5.9 
			 February 2001 4 10.1 7 10.5 90 7.8 1,518 5.3 
			 February 2002 4 9.1 7 10.1 84 7.3 1,450 5.0 
			 February 2003 3 7.4 6 9.2 76 6.6 1,494 5.1 
			 February 2004 3 7.1 6 8.6 77 6.7 1,444 4.9 
			 March 2005 3 7.9 n/a n/a 69 5.9 1,378 4.7 
			 March 2006 3 7.4 6 8.9 73 6.2 1,483 5.0 
			 Source: Annual local area Labour Force Survey, Annual Population Survey. (1 )Model-based estimates of unemployment. Estimates are subject to random variability. (2 )Number of persons, aged 16 and over, expressed a percentage of the resident economically active population aged 16 and over. Estimates are subject to sampling variability. Changes In the estimates over time should be treated with particular caution. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Annual average number of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance in the Jarrow parliamentary constituency, South Tyneside metropolitan borough, the North East region and the United Kingdom. 
			   Jarrow  South Tyneside  North East  United Kingdom 
			   Level  Proportion( 1)  (%)  Level  Proportion( 1)  (%)  Level  Proportion( 1)  (%)  Level  Proportion( 1)  (%) 
			 1997 3,119 6.4 7,004 7.7 94,459 6.1 1,602,442 4.5 
			 1998 2,766 5.7 6,283 6.9 84,399 5.4 1,362,340 3.8 
			 1999 2,820 5.8 6,477 12 81,042 5.2 1,263,001 3.5 
			 2000 2,625 5.4 6,058 6.7 73,363 4.7 1,102,257 3.0 
			 2001 2,377 4.9 5,540 6.1 63,852 4.1 982,998 2.7 
			 2002 2,273 4.7 5,207 5.7 59,026 3.8 958,759 2.6 
			 2003 1,986 4.1 4,588 5.0 53,806 3.4 945,894 2.6 
			 2004 1,742 3.6 4,078 4.5 47,093 3.0 866,144 2.3 
			 2005 1,824 3.7 4,096 4.5 46,594 2.9 874,417 2.3 
			 2006 1.870 3.8 4,251 4.6 56.792 3.2 956.732 2.6 
			 (1 )Number of claimants expressed as a percentage of the resident working-age population. (2 )Proportions for parliamentary constituencies are based on 2001 Census data adjusted to be consistent with 2001 mid-year population estimates for local authorities. Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative data

Benefit Fraud

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the budget was of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate and its predecessor for each year since 1997; how many staff it employed in each year; and what its national targets were in each year.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial Year  Expenditure (£ million)  Staff employed 
			 1997-98(1) 3.44 86 
			 1998-99 5.8 133 
			 1999-2000 5.64 138 
			 2000-01 5.88 149 
			 2001-02 5.55 137 
			 2002-03(2) 7.11 136 
			 2003-04 7.71 139 
			 2004-05 7.86 154 
			 2005-06 7.1 147 
			 2006-07(3) 5.6 127 
			  Notes: (1 )The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate was launched in November 1997 so expenditure represents November 1997 to March 1998. (2 )Includes recruitment for Comprehensive Performance Assessment work and Performance Improvement Action Team (funded by Treasury Invest to Save Money). (3 )Expenditure represents April 2006 to December 2006. 
		
	
	The BFI contributes towards the Department for Work and Pensions Public Service Agreement targets and objectives. These targets and objectives are in the Departmental report, which is available in the Library.

Call Handling Statistics

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of calls to his Department and its agencies in each year from 2002-03 to 2006-07 were  (a) handled by an adviser,  (b) received but abandoned and  (c) received an engaged tone, broken down by line of business.

Anne McGuire: The information is as follows.
	
		
			   Calls handled by adviser  Calls abandoned  Received engaged tone( 1)  Other outcomes( 2) 
			  DWP business  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			  CSA( 3) 
			 2002-03 3,121.363 85.5 528,404 14.5 0 0 508,784 12.3 
			 2003-04 3,416,746 72.8 1,273,788 27.2 0 0 866,949 13.8 
			 2004-05 4,239,694 84.2 794,264 15.8 0 0 274,959 4.8 
			 2005-06 4,395,747 91.2 423,464 8.8 0 0 126,849 2.4 
			 2006-October 2006(4) 2,565,836 96.8 84,064 3.2 0 0 69,182 2.3 
			  
			  DCS Helpline( 5) 
			 2002-03 3,829,154 82.0 840,986 18.0 12,203,595 72.3 — — 
			 2003-04 3,917,613 80.6 940,799 19.4 19,978,016 80.4 — — 
			 2004-05 4,425,920 81.9 979,045 18.1 18,526,578 77.4 — — 
			 2005-06 4,725,283 92.4 387,172 7.6 36,849 0.7 — — 
			 2006-October 2006 2,766,634 91.9 244,470 8.1 20,072 0.7 — — 
			  
			  Benefit Enquiry Line( 5) 
			 2002-03 1,148,695 80.2 282,900 19.8 149,402 9.4 — — 
			 2003-04 1,247,725 78.5 341,420 21.5 907,194 36.3 — — 
			 2004-05 1,077,290 74.2 375,069 25.8 1,070,533 42.4 — — 
			 2005-06 947,663 76.9 285,446 23.1 564,970 31.4 — — 
			 2006-October 2006 665,907 91.8 59,356 8.2 13,719 1.9 — — 
			  
			  Debt Management 
			 2002-03(6) — — — — — — — — 
			 2003-04(6) 49,673 — — — — — — — 
			 2004-05(6) 251,625 — — — — — 15 — 
			 2005-06(6) 490,776 — — — 148,350 17.7 4,036 0.5 
			 2006-October 2006(6) 552,446 — — — 8,280 1.0 5,239 0.6 
			  
			  Employer Direct 
			 2002-03 1,743,240 95.4 82,433 4.6 0 0 0 0 
			 2003-04 1,796,077 94.6 101,359 5.4 0 0 0 0 
			 2004-05 1,727,685 95.4 84,102 4.6 0 0 0 0 
			 2005-06 1,549,847 95.6 55,669 4.4 0 0 0 0 
			 2006-October 2006(7) — — — — — — — — 
			  
			  Jobcentre Plus Direct 
			 2002-03(8) 6,413,846 89.9 723,486 10.1 0 0 0 0 
			 2003-04(8) 7,243,994 88.5 311,897 11.5 0 0 0 0 
			 2004-05 10,188,510 79.3 2,601,619 20.3 0 0 0 0 
			 2005-06 14,105,571 86.6 2,131,998 13.1 0 0 0 0 
			 2006-October 2006(7) 10,658,295 94.7 579,301 5.1 0 0 0 0 
			  
			  The Pension Service( 9) 
			 2002-03 — — — — — — — — 
			 2003-04(10) 11,984,203 91.1 977,526 — 570,620 7.3 — — 
			 2004-05 17,634,265 90.8 1,474,293 7.4 265,576 2.0 139,778 1.0 
			 2005-06 13,000,183 94.0 800,568 5.1 58,439 0.6 81,794 0.6 
			 2006-October 2006 6,392,505 96.8 319,615 4.7 8,829 0.2 31,714 0.5 
			 (1) Engaged tone—or referred to as blocked calls. These calls will result in the customer receiving an engaged tone or automated message as a result of proactively blocking the calls from arriving to the centre. (2) Other outcomes—applies to calls which are not presented to the contact centre due to technical reasons only such as system failures, system overload, power cuts, etc. In these circumstances the customer would receive an engaged tone, automated message, ring tone no reply or disconnect. (3) CSA other outcomes figures exclude calls answered by automated message. (4) CSA figures are for both CSCS and CS2 systems. (5) DCS helpline and benefit enquiry line have considerably reduced the number of engaged tones customers receive from 2005-06 as a result of old telephony systems being replaced with new, providing increased capacity and functionality. Calls receiving the engage figures include other outcomes. (6) Data not available for Debt Management for 2002-03 as robust measurement systems not in place. Only limited data available prior to 2005-06 as phased implementation of advanced telephony systems commenced in 2005. (7) Jobcentre Plus Direct figures include for Employer Direct, NINO allocations and National Benefit Fraud Hotline due to organisational changes. (8) Jobseeker direct telephony figures only. First contact process implemented into contact centres from 2004-05. (9) The Pension Service was launched in April 2002.The majority of the contact centres/help-lines became fully operational and appropriate data collection processes were put in place by August 2003; robust data are not available prior to August 2003. Prior to reporting year 2006-07 TPS calculated the proportion of calls answered differently from other agencies (and could not be amended as related to PSA). From reporting year 2006-07 TPS calculation has been aligned with the standard definition used across the Department. Total abandoned call figures provided. (10) Comprehensive data for the Pension Service are not available for 2003-04. Figures represent part year data only from August 2003-March 2004 and therefore unable to provide robust figure for proportion abandoned. Achievements against targets on blocked and answered calls have been taken from figures published in the annual report and accounts for 2003-04.  Notes: 1. Proportion of calls handled by adviser/abandoned—calculated using calls offered for the adviser to answer. These figures do not include calls receiving an engaged tone and other outcomes because the adviser is unable to answer such calls. 2. Those calls receiving an engaged tone and other outcomes occur and are measured before they reach the contact centre and before being offered for the adviser to answer. This is a standard telephony definition.

Financial Assistance Scheme

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average time taken for applicants eligible for payments from the Financial Assistance Scheme to receive such payments following applications.

James Purnell: Before the Financial Assistance Scheme is able to start processing applications for individual scheme members, the pension scheme has to complete the Notification and Qualification processes. These involve the trustees and administrators providing basic scheme information to the FAS Operational Unit. They then have six months to provide data on individual members before a notice requiring provision of this information can be issued. As at 29 December 2006, the average time taken (since FAS operations started in September 2005) from first notification of a scheme to the date of the first payment to a member was 190 working days.
	Within this period, the average time taken by the FAS Operational Unit from first receipt from the trustees or administrators of member data to the date of the first payment to a member of the scheme was24 working days.

Industrial Diseases Compensation

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims were made in Wales under the compensation scheme for slate quarrymen in each of the last three years.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 1 February 2007
	There are no specific data available on the number of claims made in Wales by slate quarrymen under the Pneumoconiosis etc (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  All claims made in Wales under the Pneumoconiosis etc (Workers Compensation) Act 1979 
			   Number of claims 
			 2003-04 65 
			 2004-05 289 
			 2005-06 273

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants there were of industrial injuries disablement benefit in  (a) England,  (b) Wales and  (c) each Welsh parliamentary constituency in each of the last three years; and what percentage of the relevant working population each figure represents.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 1 February 2007
	Information on the number of industrial injuries disablement benefit cases in payment is not available at constituency level.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Industrial injuries disablement benefit cases in payment 
			   England  Wales 
			   Number of cases in payment  Percentage of working age population  Number of cases in payment  Percentage of working age population 
			 2004 219,575 0.7 19,240 1.1 
			 2005 219,670 0.7 19,380 1.1 
			 2006 219,155 0.7 19,290 1.1 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are based on 100 per cent. data and exclude reduced earnings allowance cases. 2. Figures are taken at March each year and rounded to the nearest five. 3. The percentage of population has been calculated using mid-2005 population estimates. Working age has been defined as females aged 16 to 59 and males 16 to 64.  Source: DWP Information Directorate

National Insurance Fund

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what has been the annual loss to the National Insurance Fund from the reduction of employers' contributions on the introduction of the aggregates levy and other environmental taxes; and what the yield of each of those was taxes in each year since their introduction.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The landfill tax, climate change levy and aggregates levy were introduced with offsetting cuts in employers' national insurance contributions (NICs). The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Landfill tax (LFT) revenue and value of 0.2 percentage point cut in main rate of employers' NICs 
			  £ million 
			   LFT revenue( 1)  Approximate value of 0.2pp cut in main rate of employers' NICs in 1997-98( 2) 
			 1996-97 (3)170 — 
			 1997-98 352 550 
			 1998-99 323 610 
			 1999-00 442 n/a 
			 2000-01 476 n/a 
			 2001-02 508 n/a 
			 2002-03 538 n/a 
			 2003-04 638 n/a 
			 2004-05 668 n/a 
			 2005-06 743 n/a 
			 2006-07 (4)0.8 billion n/a 
			 n/a = Not available (1 )On accruals basis. Based on LFT declared on trader returns (2 )Source: Based on HM Treasury Tax Ready Reckoner (3 )From October 1996 (4 )Expected 
		
	
	Landfill tax was introduced with an offsetting0.2 percentage point cut in the main rate of employer NICs from 1997-98. It is not possible to calculate the effects of the compensation for the landfill tax on employer NICs after 1999 due to structural changes to employers' NICs.
	
		
			  Climate change levy (CCL) revenue and value of 0.3 percentage point cut in employers' NICs 
			  £ million 
			   CCL revenue( 1)  Approximate value of 0.3 pp cut in employers' NICs( 2) 
			 2001-02 771 1,035 
			 2002-03 826 1,125 
			 2003-04 816 1,185 
			 2004-05 753 1,215 
			 2005-06 738 1,275 
			 2006-07 (3)0.7 billion 1,350 
			 (1 )On accruals basis. Based on CCL declared on trader returns (2 )Source: Based on HM Treasury Tax Ready Reckoner (3) Expected 
		
	
	
		
			  Aggregates levy (AL) revenue and value of 0.1 percentage point cut in employers' NICs 
			  £ million 
			   AL revenue( 1)  Approximate value of 0.1 pp cut in employers' NICs( 2) 
			 2002-03 309 375 
			 2003-04 340 395 
			 2004-05 334 405 
			 2005-06 323 425 
			 2006-07 (3)0.3 billion 450 
			 (1 )On accruals basis. Based on AL declared on trader returns (2 )Source: Based on HM Treasury Tax Ready Reckoner (3) Expected

National Insurance Numbers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many National Insurance numbers have been issued since May 2004; and how many of these were to workers from EU accession countries, broken down by country of origin.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available in the requested format. The latest available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Number of National Insurance numbers issued 
			  Calendar year  Number issued 
			 2004 1,250,622 
			 2005 1,486,312 
			 2006 (to 31 October 2006)) 1,369,652 
			 Notes: The above figures relate to National Insurance numbers allocated to: 1. Children who reach 16 years of age (the juvenile registration process); 2. UK adults who missed out on the juvenile registration process and 3. Foreign nationals who enter the UK and require a NINO (adult NINO allocation process). 
		
	
	
		
			  NINOs allocated to A8 applicants by country of origin from May 2004 to 30 September 2006 
			  A8 applicants by country  Allocated for employment purposes 
			 Czech Republic 24,699 
			 Estonia 5,304 
			 Hungary 15,561 
			 Latvia 23,469 
			 Lithuania 49,835 
			 Poland 303,254 
			 Slovakia 44,538 
			 Slovenia 698

Pension Credit

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to encourage eligible pensioners to claim pension credit.

James Purnell: The Pension Service is undertaking a wide range of steps to encourage eligible pensioners to claim pension credit.
	We are writing to everyone who we believe may have an entitlement to pension credit, encouraging them to apply and advising how the Pension Service can help them do so. Over two million mailings are planned through 2006-07.
	We are broadening the appeal of pension credit by focusing our contacts with pensioners much more on their needs as a whole. The Pension Service Local Service offers face-to-face visits to the most eligible and vulnerable pensioners during which full benefit entitlement checks are carried out. One million home visits will be carried out during 2006-07.
	The Pension Service Local Service is continuing to work very closely with local partners (including local authorities as well as voluntary organisations such as Help the Aged and Age Concern) to maximise take-up of pension credit for pensioners. We are widening the scope of partnership activity and expanding our current work programme with key utilities and other major companies whose customers include likely eligible non-recipients to pension credit. These activities are being supported by national press advertising to maintain the high profile of pension credit. Local marketing and media campaigns will be targeted in those regions and areas where there are relatively high numbers of eligible non-recipients.
	In addition, we are improving our service and encouraging take-up by enabling new customers who call to claim their state pension, to also apply for pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit in a single call if appropriate.
	The programme for the future transformation of the Pension Service enables customer advisers to encourage take-up of pension credit when customers call to notify key changes of circumstance.

Pension Tax Credits

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many overpayments of pension tax credits have been made to date; what the value is of these overpayments; and what the average debt incurred is by recipients of such overpayments.

James Plaskitt: Since the introduction of pension credit in 2003, up to 31 October 2006, 160,600 overpayments of pension credit have been identified and recorded on systems. They represent a total of £56.07 million of overpayments. The average of each debt is approximately £350.
	During 2005-06, the pension credit overpayments identified and recorded on systems represented 0.21 per cent. of the expenditure on pension credit in that year.
	In addition, a further 29,600 official error and small overpayments were identified although not formally recorded on systems. Their value was estimated at£4.9 million.

Personal Capability Assessment

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether stakeholders being consulted on the transformation of the personal capability assessment have been given access to LIMA beyond a demonstration of the computer system.

Jim Murphy: Members of the personal capability assessment consultative groups have received a demonstration of the Logic integrated Medical Assessment (LiMA) and how it works. It is outside the remit of the PCA consultative groups to review the LiMA software which is owned by Atos Origin and is, therefore, commercially sensitive information.
	The LiMA system does not make the benefit entitlement decision and is used as a computer based support tool for doctors conducting face-to-face PCA examinations.
	The LiMA system is constantly under review. It will be fully updated to take account of the revised PCA descriptors prior to the introduction of employment and support allowance.

Winter Fuel Payment

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on the winter fuel payment.

James Purnell: There have been a number of recent representations on the winter fuel payment. These include calls for an increase in the payment, forthe payment to be extended to disabled people under 60 years of age and most recently to people receiving disability living allowance who are terminally ill, and for a change in the qualifying week, which is set in legislation as the third full week in September.

Winter Fuel Payment

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the  (a) effects and  (b) administrative costs of changing the date relating to eligibility for winter fuel payments to (i) 31 October and (ii) 31 December each year.

James Purnell: If the deadline to qualify for this winter's payment had been the 31 October, around 60,000 more people in Great Britain would have become eligible to receive a payment at an additional cost of approximately £8 million. If the deadline had been the 31 December, around 150,000 more people in Great Britain would have become eligible to receivea payment at an additional cost of approximately£21 million.
	The qualifying week for winter fuel payments is set in legislation as the third full week in September. This date is used in order to establish entitlement and make payments before Christmas. If a later date were used, the payment exercise could not be completed in time for the payments to be available by Christmas. We decided to make all automatic payments by Christmas to reassure pensioners that they will have extra money available to pay for heating their homes during the coldest part of the year. If the qualifying week were to be significantly later than it is at present, then payments would have to be made in the early part of the following year. Departmental computer systems are already working to full capacity during the early months of the year to accommodate the uprating of benefits in April. It would not be possible to issue over 11 million winter fuel payments at the same time without putting this at risk.
	No assessment has been made of the administrative costs if the qualifying date was changed to either31 October or 31 December each year but they are likely to be negligible as the same processes would be used.

Workstep

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Workstep places are unoccupied, broken down by location; and whether he plans to reallocate those places to providers who have already successfully filled their allocation.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 18 January 2007
	The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Unfilled Workstep places at the end of November 2006 by Jobcentre region 
			   Number 
			 East Midlands 86 
			 North East 151 
			 London 167 
			 South East 94 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 211 
			 Wales 54 
			 West Midlands 162 
			 Scotland 163 
			 South West 98 
			 North West 205 
			 East of England 166 
			 Nationally-contracted provision 97 
			 Total 1,654 
			  Note: Figures for Workstep are not collected for any smaller geographical units. 
		
	
	We have no plans to re-allocate these unfilled places as a level of under-occupancy based on previous performance is assumed for contracting purposes and for setting the annual expenditure allocation for the Workstep programme.